My home in Fort Worth Texas has windows built by General Aluminum (GA). These windows use some type of spring assembly on each side as a balance device. Does anyone know how to make the spring assemblies stop making a loud noise when being opened? It sounds like the spring is hanging-up and suddenly releasing causing the loud banging or slapping noise. Any guidance would be welcome.

 

Contact a local glass shop and have them replace the tensioners. They would probably sell you the tensioners so you could replace them yourself, but if you've never done it, it's probably worth the $60 to $80 that they will charge you for them to do it.

 

The balance.... is it a spring inside of a square rod, with a block and tackle pulley and cord? If so, it might indicate that the windows are pinched in the middle. Maybe measure across the middle of the windows and compare that measurement with the top and bottom (inside and out).

Additionally, the ones I'm familiar with have a hook on one end of the cord, and a knot behind the hook. If that knot is not back in it's hole it will make the hook stick out and the hook will rub on the spring as the window is operated.

If none of this sounds familiar then I guess I'm not familiar with what type of balance that would be?

 

Thanks for the comments! However, do the balances really need to be replaced? Isn’t there a way to repair them? In my case, it would be cost prohibitive to replace the balances in my home because all my windows make this noise. I now wonder if the sound when opening a window could be the spiral rod as it spins and bangs around inside the balance tube. Would it be possible to re-grease the internal components of the balance once removed and dismantled?

 

Thanks for the help. However, my windows use a balance with a spiral rod and some type of spring inside a tube that looks to be 3/8" in diameter. There are two tubes (balances); one each side of the window and are visible whenever the window is closed.

 

If they are spiral balances, it's more than likely that they are shot and need to be replaced. The balances are pretty cheap- I think Homer Depot's web site has them via mail order but you also need the crank tool which is used to wind them up and install them. You just need to order the correct length balance.

You can try tuning them up with some silicone spray but you also need the crank tool to unhook, unwind, clean, rewind, rehook, etc.

 

Thanks for the information! I have the crank tool and I don't mind making repairs. Hopefully, lubracating the internal components will do the trick. Can you please tell me how to remove the balance assembly after the spring assembly is unwound with the crank tool?

 

The balance is held at the top by a single screw. It may have a snap-in cover over the top portion of the balance, if so, it can be unsnapped by prying underneath it. Usually I don't remove the balance to clean it, I just unhook it and let it unwind, I'll wipe it off with a rag, spray it down with silicone, wind it up, work it up and down while hooked in the tool, let it unwind, wipe it off, and do it again.

When you go to reinstall, be sure you put the same amount of tension on each side. If it won't wind up, something's broken inside.= and they need to be replaced.

 

Great advice - thanks! I will give it a try. If things don't work out, I will replace same.