Am I the only one who thought you had to replace a whole window frame for a broken sash cord?

Logan Wells · 2026-03-19T20:15:07.086562+00:00

Last month, while fixing a 1920s window in my Cincinnati bungalow, I discovered you can just fish a new cord with a weight and a piece of chain through the pocket in the side jamb, which saved me about $800 in materials and a weekend of demolition.

dylan_brown305mo ago

That fix is a total gamble, honestly.

6

susan_adams4mo ago

Yeah that reminds me, last time I tried that fix the whole sash dropped on my foot.

6

rowan_wells305mo ago

Remember when we tried that and found a squirrel nest in the weight pocket?

3

claire8725mo ago

Actually, that sash cord trick is a known fix for a reason. It works on most old double-hung windows. But if the pulley is seized or the weight pocket is blocked with old plaster, you're still looking at opening up the jamb. Sometimes the simple fix isn't so simple.

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