Sash window mystery - suddenly sticking

1274

Pllease help - I can't afford to get a tradesman in for this. I had a perfectly fine sash window a few weeks ago. The top sash is now mysteriously refusing to budge below 2-3 inches or so. I haven't painted or done anything to the window to cause this. My internet research suggests there may be swelling of the weight channel (don't know proper name) so I've tried opening the window in all weathers to see if this makes a difference (even snow this morning!) It doesn't. Is there any way I can cure this without dismantling the whole window (never done DIY before and can foresee a huge disaster if this is needed)? I've tried a squirt of WD40 on the pulley - to no effect.

bryanb

Try pulling gently on each sash cord to see if the weights rise and fall easily. If they do it must be the window stuck in the channels each side. Anything jammed there? or any marks? If it will move a bit try rubbing a candle over the part you can get to and ease the window up and down.

1274

Thanks for your quick reply. Just had a quick test. It's really difficult to say whether the weights move freely because there's only about an inch of sash cord to pull on due to the fact I can't get the window lower than this. Left side seems to move fine. Right side seems "heavier" but this could be because there's less cord to pull on on the right. Don't think there's anything jammed in the channel or any marks (but I can only see a couple of inches of it) but I have found out some more info. Basically, when pushed really hard to the 3 inches down point (as far as it will go) it sort of bounces back up an inch - does this suggest anything to you?

bryanb

Sounds as though the right sash weight is jammed, you may be able to get access by unscrewing the lower part of the channel covering the weight and easing it away. There is a danger of doing damage this way though. You should dismantle the channel guides and remove the windows. Normally difficult even to find the screws (paint) Is it really essential to open this window?

curly_cabbage

Don't know if this is any help but i once saw on one of those "Trade Secret" programes. They rubbed a normal white candle up and down the runner which seemed to grease it. Good luck.

CC

1274

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You guys have just saved me the cost of calling someone in for what was an embarrassingly simple repair. I tried again with more WD40 and a beeswax candle and hanging my whole weight off the top frame and it unstuck. Thank goodness because everything's painted over with about 50 coats of thick white gloss so I can't unscrew anything (or even see it under all the paint). Have just sprayed both sash cords with more WD40 to stop the problem recurring. I'm really grateful to you all.