Double Glazing Repair Near Me
There are times when window repair may be more effective than replacing. This usually happens when windows suffer from extensive damage, including large cracks and breaks.
Double pane windows are effective in insulating homes and reducing energy bills. They can be less effective however, if one or both glass panes is cracked or broken.
Broken Panes
A rogue baseball or a powerful wind can smash windows glass leaving your home open to the elements. It can also leave you and your family at risk of being injured by the sharp shards of glass. To prevent further damage to your home and to ensure its safety, it is vital to get your broken window repaired immediately.
If you have a double-paned glass that has been damaged, you will need both the glass and glazing to repair it. This is a task that should be left to the professionals.
You will need to carefully take off both the old glass and the glazing. Tape the glass to prevent shards from falling out while you work. Wear safety glasses and gloves to safeguard yourself. The next step is to break the hardened glazing compound around the damaged glass with a putty knife. You may need to scrape it or break it into pieces. After you have removed the old glass, you can scrape off the glass shards using a razor blade.
After the old glass is gone, you can clean the frame of the window before installing a new piece of glass. Depending on the kind of window, this can be easy or difficult to do. Vinyl frames are much easier to replace than wooden frames. Before you begin the replacement, determine the opening to the new windowpane, and note the dimensions. Choose a windowpane that is slightly smaller than the opening in order to allow for expansion or contraction. You'll also require new glaziers' points to hold the glass in place and you'll want some silicone sealant available for a final waterproofing.
Many triple- or double-pane windows are fitted with gas fillers to boost their energy efficiency. These gases are more efficient at insulating than air, therefore they help keep heat in during the winter months and out in the summer. The gas escapes when one of these windows breaks and the efficiency of your home will be affected. A professional can repair the broken pane and replace the insulation to restore your energy savings.
Foggy Panes
You might be able to solve this issue by following a few easy steps when you have triple or double pane windows that are foggy. Foggy windows are most commonly caused by a crack in the window seal which lets moisture-laden air in the space between the panes of glass. This moisture can cause condensation and reduce the insulation performance of your windows.
Foggy windows are a typical issue for older window units, particularly in older homes with triple-pane or double-pane insulated glass. If the seal is damaged water from the air around it gets trapped between the glass panes, which can cause cloudy appearance, visible water droplets, and a decrease in energy efficiency. This is usually due to the gradual breakdown of polyisobutylene around the glass panes insulated in the windows. This can be due exposure to sunlight, the settlement of the house or the glass breaking.
Although there are DIY solutions to this problem, it is best to seek out an expert to make sure that window units are repaired correctly. A professional will employ the appropriate tools for this type of work and will have the training to identify the root causes of the problem. They are also able to accomplish this task efficiently and safely, saving you time and money.
Some DIY solutions to fix foggy windows repair double glazed window are to drill small holes in the bottom of the window unit, using a dehumidifier to remove the trapped moisture or installing small vents and then spraying the windows with anti-fog solution. While these techniques can be useful, they do not solve the underlying issue and are more cosmetic than practical.
This issue can be fixed by replacing your insulated windows that will restore the insulation and repair the seal. It can be costly however you will save money over the long term as your energy bills will be lower and your home will be more comfortable.
Cracked Panes
Window panes may crack and break due to a variety of reasons, including drastic changes in pressure or temperature, natural disasters or pets that are hyperactive, even flying objects. Whatever the cause, it's important to address cracked windows as quickly as possible. They are not only unsightly but they also force your HVAC system to work harder, leading to higher electricity bills.
If the double-paned windows you have aren't completely broken, you can fix them by placing adhesive in the cracks. The adhesive is a special putty or tape that stops the glass from breaking or expanding.
If your double-pane windows are damaged, it's best to find a reliable tradesperson as soon as you can. Checkatrade is a great resource to find local tradespeople who have been thoroughly vetted and checked. This means you can be sure that the person you hire is skilled and competent. Repairing a single pane of glass will depend on the dimensions, style and material. However, it's typically less expensive than replacing the entire window.
A crack in a double-pane window can cause damage to the gas layer that separates the panes, and diminishes your window's energy efficiency. If the crack is serious enough, you may need to replace both of your windows.
In the meantime, a little clear tape can keep the crack from getting any worse until you're able repair it. Use masking tape or a similar heavy-duty tape to extend the tape for a couple of inches on both sides to extend it beyond the crack. This will hold the crack in place and prevent water from getting into your home.
Stress cracks begin as small and spread across the glass pane, usually caused by extreme temperature fluctuations. They can also occur when you slam the window or open it too tightly. These cracks can be very difficult to repair and in certain cases, the entire window may need to be replaced. You can avoid stress cracks by ensuring that you use your windows with care and never slam them shut or open them too vigorously.
Misty Panes
Condensation can happen even though double-glazed windows are extremely energy efficient. This can be a good thing however it doesn't mean that your double-glazing isn't functioning properly, so long that the condensation doesn't form within your window or frame. If you notice condensation or mist on the outside, it could indicate that there's a hole in the seal, allowing moisture to get into the insulation portion of the double glazing.
Typically, condensation develops on the surface of an object when warm water vapour comes into contact with it, and then turns into liquid. This is why you'll find it on your bathroom mirror, your shower cubicle and on other windows around your home as well as on the inside of your window panes. This is a common phenomenon which can be easily prevented by ensuring that your home is adequately ventilated and use energy-efficient double glazing units.
This is a common problem with older or lower quality double glazing. The seal and bead, which holds the two panes of glass together (to create an insulated cavity) will be damaged over time. Rubber strips, for example are prone to deterioration and allow moisture into the insulating space.
Once this happens it will react with the inside surface of your window to form fog and mist which appears on both the inner and exterior surfaces. It is typically required to drill holes into your double-glazed window to insert a desiccant pack into the space that is used to insulate. The desiccant will absorb any moisture that gets into the gap in the insulation and this is the reason you usually see condensation in your double-glazed windows.
It is important to know that although you can use desiccant to remove moisture from the inside of your double-glazed window the best way to deal with this issue is to get your double-glazed windows repaired by a professional as soon as possible. This will stop the moisture from transferring to the double-glazed window and causing further damage.