Sometimes a window not staying open is just an annoyance. Occasionally, it’s a bigger inconvenience if you want to air out your bedroom or kitchen. In an emergency, it can be a significant safety issue if the window is needed for emergency egress out of a bedroom.

This issue occurs a lot when we inspect homes, and many future homeowners are concerned about this issue and think that it is an expensive fix, but most of the time, it is an easy DIY project. The key to your windows staying up are the balances on the system, which I will talk about more below.

What Is a Window Balance?

Balances are the components of a window that helps you smoothly open and close a window and keep the window open when needed. Older hung windows have an elaborate pulley and weight type balance system that is more complicated than modern balances. Most balances nowadays are constant force type that is considerably smaller. See below for the two types of balances.

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What Causes Your Window to Not Stay Open?

If your window will not stay open, 90% of the time, the balance is the issue. The balance is either broken or has disengaged from the window. Now, as you can see from the pictures above, the repair can be complicated based on what type of balance system it is. However, the modern constant force balances are effortless to fix or replace with a little proper instruction. Usually, all it takes is a screwdriver and a couple of minutes to have the windows working like brand new.

Here is a video that can walk you through that process. If you have an older style hung window with an older pulley/weight or spring-loaded system, you should hire a window professional for the repair or consider upgrading your windows. Newer windows can help you save on your utility bills and increase the comfort level of your home.

One of the more misunderstood items that often gets flagged during a home inspection is old galvanized piping. A lot of times, when I am inspecting a house with galvanized piping, there are no symptoms of low water pressure or rusty water, but it is still reported because there is some likelihood these issues will occur in the future.

Lintel?  Isn’t that a type of soup?  Actually, it is a very important part of your home’s structure that not many homeowners know or think about.

As spring turns into summer, there is one thing on Chicagoans minds……spending a lot of time outdoors. 

I believe it is in our nature as human beings to run to the most extreme and/or expensive solution when things go wrong.