Q. My home is 43 years old. I have two windows in the kitchen that drop when opened. Also, the same situation exists with one window in the living room.
My handyman says that opening the windows is controlled by a spring that is worn, and he doesn’t know how to replace it.
I would find it financially difficult to replace all the windows (two in the kitchen, five in the living room). Do you know of a company that will fix these windows? I have bill for the original installers but cannot locate the company.
–Faye Reisin
A. It sounds like your windows do not feature the standard rope and pulley system that was common in the 1970s, said John Videckis of Just Sashes in Chicago.
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Unfortunately, he said, window companies began replacing the reliable and easy-to-maintain rope and pulley window about 40 years ago and started using spring-loaded suspension systems.
The problem with the spring-loaded system is that when the window is closed, the springs are at full extension. Over time, the springs lose most of their tension. When this happens, the top sash won’t stay up and the bottom won’t open very far.
It may be hard to find the exact replacement parts to repair your windows because there were a variety of spring-loaded types, and they were usually sold with the windows as a complete unit, he said.
If you can find a window repair service, ask them to evaluate the size of the window and the specific system.
They may be able to repair the existing hardware or install a different balance system.
Videckis specializes in making and repairing sashes, but he said he also takes calls for this kind of window repair.
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Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Unpublished letters cannot be answered individually.