Condensation removal from double glazed windows
Вставка
- Опубліковано 20 чер 2012
- See how Ideal Window Solutions - Fareham Hampshire can mend failed double glazed window sealed units with their innovative environmentally friendly process.
- Наука та технологія
don't be fooled people the whole point of a sealed double glazed unit is that it is just that! sealed! there is a lot of cowboys that will charge an arm and leg to replace units that's why it's always best to shop around and normally the unit will have a 10 year guarantee upon fitting.
Dennis pitcher exactly. The whole point of double glazing is the Argon gas between the two panes. So you get clean windows but they're not as energy efficient without the gas.
pretty damn good though, you can still have a very insulated house
We also work in the glazing industry and we've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix. Not all windows have argon in them, and the IGU standards council acknowledges that the argon leaks out at a compound rate of 2% per year. If the standards council acknowledges that why can't you?
This looks like it takes as long or longer then replacing the IGU. I can't imagine this service being so much cheaper than a new glass pack that you would give up pretty much all of the thermal break provided by the insulating gas.
so basically Heston Blumenthal comes round and pees in your window?
🤣👍
could you not have removed the plastic edge panels from the inside and taken the window out to clean oppose to damaging the glass??
That's a good question. I guess the assumption is that the water most commonly gets in from the bottom? Seal is most likely to fail at the bottom because the water runs down the glass and sits at the base, where it has time to penetrate? But just guessing.
Right it cannot drilling toughened glass but laminated glass can be drilled
how will this work on a krypton or argon filled unit ??
I know a few folk that would have this done, the ones that had their roof tiles jet washed and 'sealed' with a spray on coating.
Any company like this in Southshore, Massachusetts?
I am no expert, but I have replaced many fogged up double paned windows. if they refilled the space between the windows with the apropriate gas and resealed them, this would be a viable solution. the cost of buying a replacement sealed glass panel is probably not much more than this quick fix, and you would regain the original insululative qualities.
We've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix. It's about half the price of replacing the glass or 20% of the price of an installed new unit.
I work in the glazing industry and come across misted sealed units a lot. The only way to deal with the situation is to renew the failed unit. It's as simple as that. And they come with a ten year guarantee. This method of drilling units etc is nonsense. I've tried splitting units to keep the glass, realistically in man hours it would be a very expensive job to utilise the existing glass to remake a sealed unit. The window would need boarding up while the unit is taken back to workshop. I'm not sure my customers would like that. Yet alone the cost of ply on top.
you are a closed minded egg head
We also work in the glazing industry and we've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix.
@david bird
'ONLY' way -- 'RENEW'. What does that mean? Do you mean replace? I heartily agree you come across misted sealed units a lot because some sooner others later, but it's a given, they fail. The guarantees sound good in the saying, but in actuality aren't worth the bother. The manufacturer blames the installer, and vice-versa. Maybe it was mishandled in shipping. The homeowner usually doesn't want the grief and struggle to get a 'free' replacement that at best won't be free.
Thanks
I new sealed unit that size would be about £30. Why not just change it?
+Karl Shields No way. It would be more like $200 for a large window, and another $200 to remove the glass, replace it, and disposal, and delivery.
how much does this cost per unit?
Ah then it would only be a small matter of flipping the house upside-down, so that the resin can get to the top too! Of course then there are the sides...
Would be nice to know a bit more about this process, but maybe details of the resin are secret. Otherwise any homeowner with a Dremel and a shop vac could do it.
i have this same problem in my windows
What if you have an Arch window with no opening. And its been sitting in the morning sun for 20 years with build up. Is it cheaper to replace it? Its pretty big too. And it looks messy in the mornings when the sun is on it.
It's much cheaper to get it defogged. If there are white lines from the water forming streams, you may not be able to get the lines out, but the view will improve and the insulative properties will improve.
Call manufacturer and they will get you a new glazed IG unit. That's if you want it to last. Don't throw away good money for a bad fix. Bite the bullet.
After 20 years the manufacturer wont simply "give" you a new unit and an arch window is going to be hella expensive because it's custom with only a 10 year warranty that it wont fog up again. We'll give a lifetime warranty (my company at least) that it wont fog up again. Lifetime. Bite the bullet, get defogged.
the seal can fail anywhere,it's only once the sealed unit has"broken down" there is any moisture/water present at all
you would save more money changing the unit, this repair wont last long the unit has failed, it will 100% let moisture in again. I have changed 1000s of D/G units over the years and trust me when the seal of the unit has failed it will keep letting moisture in.
The main reason for the unit to fail is the sun UV light it makes the seal brittle over time and eventually breaking the unit down.
That's why when you have a lot of break downs the units south facing or conservatory roofs will nearly allways break down first.
+Wagon Wheel very true, all my windows were fitted the same day and the only south facing window is the leaking one and the blinds on that window are all perished due to sun light
We also work in the glazing industry and we've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix.
The reason your windows that are South facing failed is because of solar pumping. All windows have a desiccant built into the spacer bar. When the window heats up during the day it pushes air out through the semi-permeable material used to seal it. If the material wasn't semi-permeable the window would explode (crack to let pressure out). At night the airspace cools and draws ambient air in. The desiccant in the spacer takes care of the moisture. When the desiccant is saturated (yes, sometimes a rotten or improperly installed frame causes this quite a bit faster) you get fog on your window. That's what happens to your south facing windows. Too bad about the blinds, buy aluminum next time.
You're needed in London
why is there condensation on outside window?
So im guessing this was a clear over clear 2pane glass it it had low e inside you would not be able to clean like this. The whole 2 pane glass would have to be replaced.
I bought windows several decades ago without argon gas. These are aluminum clad wood double hung windows. Is there a system like this to fill windows with good seals with argon gas?
+John Kling not worth the effort. Argon only improves by 5%.
Everyone wants a cheap magic fix. There isn't one. Cheapest is new IG unit unless your windows are too old. Then it is window time. I'm sure your aluminum clad wood windows are great candidates for some reglazing. You'll be happier in the long run.
It is well worth removing the pane and checking where water is getting in. Often it’s the rubber seals that need changing. I did a recent video here addressing these things for interest: ua-cam.com/video/rc5DutkQ0WM/v-deo.html
good aquarium, most fish in 36mm
So if the seal is already broken letting moisture in, isn't this just a temporary fix?
We've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix.
I can't do this to an apartment window, several stories up. Any other suggestions?
Ladder.
you can, they are designed to be fitted inside.
About the rest of the water between of glases?
We've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix. It's not water it's a solvent that evaporates rapidly.
Air moving between glass makes it less than R-4
obviously the outer pane is not toughened either either
listen I'm in the uk so prices may vary that's a 25 pound glass unit..so just replace. also the reason the become misted up is the yeast in the glazing bar no longer draws out the moisture so it will just mist up again.What a stupid none effective idea. just replace the unit.. toughened units around 75 pound the ones in patios
In Canada you're looking at the equivalent of 80 pounds just for the glass, plus labor. Venting the glass allows the silica (not yeast) to dry out. We've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix.
Prob better off removing a small window entirely disassembling window indoors etc for a full proper repair yes it's tedious but if a task is worth doing then it's worth doing it right
My window dusent shut ploper level a small gap so the wind comes in how can fix that
gagets by craig go outside and push it shut
So how can you do that with car windows?
Why would you want to?
so you basically converted double pane into single pane
He's left a water inside. It will evaporate and cause even more problems.
Phen0mable Better still, simply fill it up with water: No condensation possible there. It'd surprise anyone trying to break in, too.
Robin Hodson And when it freezes.....
Andrew H and glass cracks
Phen0mable that was my point!
+Phen0mable It's not water.
Surely this ruins the u value of the unit? It's so easy to replace the unit and probably costs less, bizarre, never see this before. What if the unit was argon filled? They gonna put the argon back? More problems than solutions to me
Not a big loss. The dual glaze window is R value roughly 3.0. Argon adds maybe .5.
We've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix.
It may be crystal clear but now you're losing the low E. Usually the double pane windows are filled with an inert gas, usually argon, which slows down heat transfer. The heat transfer is what helps your windows keep the heat inside your home in the winter and outside of your home in the summer. I'm sure that without the argon gas the double pane glass is still better than a single pane, but it still doesn't compare to a double hung unit with the argon gas pumped into the space between the glass. Can you order a double pane glass unit that comes complete with argon gas or some other inert gas filling the void between the panes? If so, does it cost too much to justify such a repair as opposed to a total replacement?
Mike Mace Low E doesn't mean there is any gas in the units at all! Low E is a coating on the glass. In any case I bet if you tested an argon filled unit 18 months after installation you would be lucky if any of it is still in there !
+Mike Mace Lol - Low E only improves by 5%, and it is a coating on the glass, therefore the fixed unit is still Low-E. Argon is probably just another 5%, that is all. You don't need argon, unless you want to "feel good" psychologically.
Low E only reflects heat. If the glass was put in backwards it actually contributes to the window failing early.
Low E deflects the rays away in the summer and lets them in, in the winter. Argon helps with insulation and sound but It's true, It does dissipate. Rather quickly at higher altitudes also. Ask your manufacturer what they think about Fog Fix. I'd love to hear that short conversation.
Ask any manufacturer what they think about a product that cuts into their bottom line and it's going to be a short conversation.
You cant drill toughened glass ? what then ?
+Colin Riley Window glass is not toughened glass (unless it reaches the floor). Only door glass is toughened.
+Colin Riley There are special drills for toughened glass.
+Sacred Baloney Not sure where you got that from. ? Building regs' stipulate the all glass below 800mm off the floor must be toughened or laminated for safety.
+Sacred Baloney Can you show me a link to these drill. As far as I know if you try and cut toughened glass with ANYTHING it will shatter into thousands of pieces. Not even a water jet will cut it.
+Sacred Baloney lol it's impossible to drill glass after its been toughened
so what happens if the sealed unit has broken down a t the top of the unit? surely it won't be long before moisture is present again ????
This seems to be an over engineered solution to something that is a simple fix, my partner just removed the glass unit, gently warmed it in front of the fire to get rid of the condensation, placed a few silica gel balls along the side of the glass unit & then resealed the unit using good quality 'scotch' packaging tape. Since 'repairing' the unit we've been free of condensation for nearly twelve months
+Susan Stabler Yes, but doesn't that leave unsightly water streaks when heated?
That's one way to fix it, but it involves gently warming it by the fire. How much are you willing to pay for labor if you aren't with Red Green?
Break the beads,take DG unit out, split unit with stanley knife, remove spacer bar,empty out old dessicant, refill with new and re gun up the unit with hot melt.
Thats the proper way to do it, only if the condensation didn't leave a stain on the glass.
+SP330Y You can remove the stains easy once the unit is open. Lookup cerium. How do you use hot melt glue on 4 sides, as it will cool before you can put on the glass (for large glass sizes)?
I did it for 7 years I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT,hot melt is a heated up gun with hot melt that pumps into the unit,i dont have to look up cerium or whatever it is,i made these units and resealed these units for a long time,bit of an expert to be truthful.
I saved a lot of people a lot of money when repairing these units.
The units are reassembled with the spacer bar,filled with dessicant, nipped under air pressure in a glass roller bench,hot melt pumped in to 1 side,then rotated to the opposite side,hot melt applied again,then the last 2 remaining sides,allow to cool then tape up with 3M gaffa tape,job done.
Just before it totally heat seals up drilla small hole through the hot melt into one side of the spacer bar,this releases any trapped air,reseal that hole and there you go.
That's how it's done in a window factory
Can you put the leaking unit in hot water and find out where the leak is, and then remove some seal and add desiccant repair the pinhole, and then just hot melt the places that were opened? This way you don't have to knife the whole unit open and clean up, which is time consuming.
Sacred Baloney No it has to be resealed,the reason it fogs up or condenses is NOT to do with a hole or leak,it is because the dessicant inside the spacer bar is spent (used it's shelf life)
Once moisture gets in and keeps getting in the dessicant absorbs as much moisture as possible then it cannot perform anymore and it fogs up.
This was easy for me as i used to work in a window factory making these every day of my life,the splitting of the unit i got down to a fine art and could do it really quickly,use lots of spray soapy washing up liquid when splitting the unit as the black hot melt will reseal if its dry.
Be careful NOT to shatter the unit by catching the edges of the toughened glass (which is the weak point)
Remove the black tape,spray the edge of the DGU (double glazed unit) with soapy water, use stanley knife to start splitting,run your knife along the edge quite a few times,then do opposite side,then the other 2 sides,eventually it will split away and come clear.
Then you might be able to use the old spacer bar if your lucky,but it must be refilled with new dessicant, clean all the glass again, re gun up,job done.
OR buy another unit from a window manufacturer,if its small shouldnt be too expensive, massive units like bay windows will cost you.
If original glass was toughened YOU HAVE to replace with toughened by law,if NOT toughened replace unit with normal glass,hope all this helps
+SP330Y hey man I like your style ...do it right or don't do it at all...is there anyway you would make a video in detail at some stage to show the process. .is would think any handy man or fancy diy head would manage it quite easily once process is shown...cheers man and happy frigging Monday 😕
I tried this on my double pane window in a door and, just as the hole finally got through the glass, it exploded. Be careful.
DukeLaCrosse20 They're not advising it as a DIY solution. And of course, you happened to have to the correct gear laying around.
DukeLaCrosse20 You cannot drill TEMPERED glass. It will explode.
Bill Davis How does one tell if the glass is tempered? In my case, the module was pretty well fogged, so I had little to lose, but if I had known it was tempered and would behave this way, I wouldn't have drilled it.
It should have had a decal or stamp on the glass in one of the corners. The color is also slightly different.
+DukeLaCrosse20 Lol - this was temepered glass that exploded. You cannot drill tempered glass (actually there may be specialized drills that can do that -- UPDATE: I don't believe there are such specialized drills.). Glass in doors are always tempered. If the glass reaches the ground and can be hit by the foot, it must be tempered.
This is not a very good way of doing it. Much easier and better in the long run to simply replace the sealed unit.
+DrGamble28 You must be in the glass supply business. A replacement glass will be $200 and another $200 for delivery/installation. Another $40 of taxes. This job is probably $50. Disclosure is needed from you. Fessup!
+Sacred Baloney I'm in the double glazing industry, the average unit price over the counter is about £50, you can change the unit yourself in a upvc window in 10 mins.
this fix doesn't work, once the unit has failed it will all ways let moisture in its a false economy trying this fix.
+Wagon Wheel - If a unit has failed, just find and seal the leak. Why replace the whole glass? Drill a 3/8" hole in the glass and pour some desiccant in it, and seal the hole. Job done.
this is ridiculous! IG units called because they are Insulated Glass Units, the idea is to have air trapped between them to work as an insulator, drilling a hole and letting air circulate ruins the purpose of insulated unit! and if the unit been fogged usually it scorches the glass so no cleaning will help! dumb! dumb! dumb! bring a window to glass shop and have them make a new IG unit!!!
We've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix. Drilling a hole lets air vent. Steam and moisture in a window basically pushes energy right through. The scorching is the desiccant running down the window after it was dissolved out of the spacer bar, when you see that the window has been fogged for a very long time.
What a load of bollix
Immature, but I had to laugh at 0:45.
Terrible idea to do this. It voids the manufacturers warranty and it permanently breaks the seal of the unit reducing it's overall U Value and R Value. In addition to that if it was originally sealed with Argon or Krypton gas for added insulation that is now completely gone as well. It is now no better then when he started he just temporarily cleaned between the panes. The condensation/moisture will return in time. A new factory sealed unit installed by a Journeyman/Master Glazier with a full warranty on the unit and his exterior seal will be the best choice and per window very nearly the same price. This is a snake oil technique all dressed up. Trust the people who put in the time and trade skills to do the job right.
you must be stupid enough to not understand that if someone had a warranty they would get the window replaces. this is obviously for someone without a warranty. and no shit the r value goes down, it's for people tha tight not be able to afford new windows. the r value goes down very little, windows aren't all that insulating in the first place.
Thanks for the comment. I appreciate your input.
We also work in the glazing industry and we've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix.
Bullshit...you need a new window
We've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix.
Man oh Man! I cannot believe the moronic peoples questions and answers here?
I love this one "Just replace the glass"? Well if this is a sliding door sealed glass unit for example it would cost an arm and a leg to replace it. It is actually cheaper to replace an entire sliding door unit than replace just the glass. And yes we dont touch anything if its under warranty right people???
My sliding door glass failed and moisture got between it. I called around to have it fixed and to my surprise WOW $800 to $1000 to fix WOW I can buy a brand new door from a BIG BOX store like Lowes or Home Depot! This is an alternative to such big money lost
True Canadian you my son have been getting ripped off find yourself a proper glazier.
True Canadian good luck drilling a hole on tempered glass.
Terrible idea to do this. It voids the manufacturers warranty and it permanently breaks the seal of the unit reducing it's overall U Value and R Value. In addition to that if it was originally sealed with Argon or Krypton gas for added insulation that is now completely gone as well. It is now no better then when he started he just temporarily cleaned between the panes. The condensation/moisture will return in time. A new factory sealed unit installed by a Journeyman/Master Glazier with a full warranty on the unit and his exterior seal will be the best choice and per window very nearly the same price. This is a snake oil technique all dressed up. Trust the people who put in the time and trade skills to do the job right.
Yes, you already said this. I'll say this again: We've defogged 8000 units over 10 years, all happy customers, the fog doesn't come back. It is a permanent fix.