How To Fix Sash Windows Cord

How to Repair a Window Sash Cord

Quondam double-hung (two sash) windows may take a cotton wool cord or a metal concatenation attached to the counterweight that supports the sashes and keeps them counterbalanced in the jamb. Over many years these cords can interruption and make information technology hard to raise the sash and impossible to go on it up. The process on this page can be used to repair both types of broken sash cord. Check here for a video demonstrating how to repair a broken sash cord.

diagram of a double-hung wooden window

This diagram illustrates the anatomy of a double-hung window and the pulley/weight organisation used to heighten and lower the sashes. All these types of windows work in the same way, a cast iron weight is fastened with a cord to both sides of each sash. The cord runs upwards to the tiptop of the window jamb, through a pulley channel, and down to the weight inside the jamb. Equally the sash moves upwardly and down the counterweight keeps it balanced and held in identify.

To repair the cord on a window like this, the counterweight inside must be reattached to the sash with a new cord. This would be a unproblematic task if non for the demand to open the jamb to become to the cast iron weight inside. Fortunately most old, double-hung wooden windows take an access panel cut into the lower sash channel for this very purpose.

Removing the Window Sash

diagram of a window frame, jamb, and trim molding

Start the repair by removing the terminate bead on 1 side of the window casing. Concur a wide chisel with the flat toward the jamb and drive it behind the dewdrop at regular intervals to loosen the nails and pry it off. Remove the stop dewdrop completely and pull the nails out. Fix it aside.

To remove the lesser window sash, lower it all the way and pull it out from the bottom where the stop bead was removed. If both cords are cleaved, remove the sash completely and set it aside while y'all cord the counterweights. If only one string is broken, pull the sash gratuitous from the casing and permit the good counterweight hold it off to the side while you work.

Removing the Counterweight Admission Panel

drawing demonstrating how to remove a window counterweight access panel

Remove the access panel in the sash channel to go to the counterweight. If the console is held in by a parting strip, utilise the chisel to pry it from its groove. Starting at the sill, bulldoze the chisel along the side of the strip to pry it out. Dig into the woods slightly with the chisel to get a grip and pry the departing strip costless as far upwardly the jamb as needed to remove the admission panel.

If there are nails or screws holding the panel in identify, remove them. Opposing rabbets will unremarkably be cut in the panel cover, one on the face and one on the dorsum. Pull the panel gratis from the end with the rabbet on the back. You'll have to try lifting the ends to discover which is the right 1.

Installing a New Sash Cord

drawing demonstrating how to remove a window counter weight

Accomplish through the access hole and pull the loose counterweight and broken cord out. Remove the quondam, broken cord paying attention to how it is tied. You should utilize the same technique to tie the new string. If you lot have trouble duplicating the knot only utilize a double knot that you are certain won't come up loose.

Cut a piece of cord long enough to achieve from the sill of the window, up to pulley at the top and downwards to the sill once more. Push ane stop of the string through the top of the pulley opening and into the crenel. Scroll the cord on the pulley wheel with your finger to push it into the cavity behind the jamb. Keep pushing cord through the pulley, letting it agglomeration up inside the jamb.

Use a wire hanger or like device aptitude into a hook on i finish to achieve through the admission hole and snag the bunched-up cord. Pull the end down and through the admission pigsty. Pull some actress cord through the pigsty, making sure non to pull the other end into the cavity above. Tie the end of the cord to the counterweight. Set the weight back into the casing and pull the cord from the pulley side to lift and lower the weight making sure it moves freely.

Attaching the Sash Cord

drawing demonstrating how to attach a sash cord

Measure the length of the groove in the side of the sash and add together near 5 inches to this length. While suspending the weight 4 or 5 inches in a higher place the sill level, hold the sash in the jamb at its highest position and mark the cord at the top of the sash with a pencil.

Set the sash aside and cut the cord to length. From the pencil mark, add together the groove measurement and cut the string at that point. Be careful not to let the end fly upward and into the pulley hole. Necktie a tight knot in the end and insert a long nail or spiral through information technology to keep the cord from being pulled in through the pulley hole.

Remove the old broken cord from the window sash. A nail is commonly driven through a knot in the end of the cord and into the side. Pull the nail free with needle-nosed pliers and save information technology. While holding the sash in the casing again, tilt the side out to admission the groove. Pull the new cord downwardly from the pulley, remove the long nail, and reinsert the nail you lot removed earlier. Tuck the knot and cord into the side channel on the sash so it doesn't beetle and bulldoze the smash into the sash using the aforementioned pigsty it came from. Employ a phillips screwdriver or a smash set to sink the nail until information technology'south tight. Slip the sash back into place and gently enhance information technology into the open position.

Install the access console and refasten it. Tap the parting strip back into its groove and pull the window sash down. Install the stop bead, lining the nails up to go back into their original holes. Gently drive the nails home. Examination the window for glide, if it binds, apply the chisel to nudge the finish dewdrop out a niggling until it moves freely. Caulk the stop dewdrop if necessary and touch up the paint.