ws450r

Currently my house has wooden double hung windows with storm windows on the outside. I was going to replace them all with vinyl, but since spending 2-3 grand on new windows wouldn't really pay off in the short time I plan on being there, I decided to just replace to old storm windows with new ones, and fix up the wooden windows with new paint and such. 2 questions, since it seems that there are just 2 problems with some of them.

1. How do I fix them to where the slide up and down evenly? I have one when you close it, it shimmys down. Kind of hard to explain, so I hope someone knows what I mean.

2. Is there anything I can do to get them to stay open on their own? When I open the kitchen window, it almost opens and closes like it has a spring in it.

1910NE

how old is the house? if the windows have sash weights, its a pretty easy fix to make them open and close properly. as for the storm windows....look into interior storm windows. if they're within your budget, you could actually end up with a better thermal barrier than by using replacements.

Windows

The shimmy is could be caused by a buildup of paint on the sash, or even a foreign object in the track, or the window stop or the parting bead could be warped. All of these things can be fixed without too much difficulty. I found a loose screw lodged between a stile and the track on one of my windows. If it is feasible, remove the stop and actually take the sash right out of the window. This is the very best way (by far) to improve the action. You can sand the sash and the track, and even lubricate it if you want.

On the second point, if they don't stay open by themselves then they are either weighted wrong, or the weights are getting tangled or hung up. Are all the ropes intact and do the ropes move freely and can you feel the weights if you just pull on the rope without moving the sash? If any of these are a 'no' you may have to remove the casing and check out the situation with the weights.

Gary in WA

Here are some basics, scroll down a bit: http://books.google.com/books?id=b93...stucco&f=false

Enter your search above and select "limited and full view".

Gary

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ws450r

Do the weight ropes travel through the steel tubing that are on each side of the window?

Ron6519

The tubes contain springs which are the holding up mechanism. You can replace these and the windows will again function properly. These are available online if not available locally. You just need to know which one to order. Speaking to the rep will sort out the options.
Ron

ws450r

If the springs are not in the best shape, will they cause the window to shimmy as well?

Ron6519

Shimmy could be more of a friction issue. Two wooden objects moving against one another will rub each other the wrong way. There are dry lubricants that you can use to alleviate the shuttering.
Ron