Certainteed single hung vinyl windows

Question

Hi, these windows were installed in the house when it was built in 1997.  The pictures show the bottle shoe and the upper piece that I think is attached to a balance that is internal and not accessible that I can see. There is no break in the channel where the upper piece can be removed. When I removed the screw holding the upper piece it quickly went down under tension and I heard a sound like something unwinding. To reinstall the screw I had to force the piece back up and then hold it from goi g back down while reinstalling the screw. All these windows work hard, even after cleaning channels and Lubricating. I could use your help with determining how the balances work and whether they are replaceable. Thanks

Bob · Accepted Answer

Hello there. This is a Certainteed Coil Balance system. The coil balances are springs that are inside that housing further up the window track. The coil tape runs along the side of the jamb track and connects to the pivot shoe. The tension in the spring is what enables the window's movement. The shoe is the 15-192. The coil springs are the Series 170 and (if there is more than one spring per side) the Series 171. The video below gives you an idea of how these parts come together.

If the windows move but roughly, you may want to remove the parts just to assess if any springs are starting to tear, of you need to clean the side of the window jamb where the coils run along. The video below shows how to remove and replace a different but similar coil balance assembly. Let me know if you have further questions about any of this hardware.