I having to remove my gas filled windows because you can't see out of them. I've had them for 15 years. The room they were in was a side porch with no air/heating unit and I was told it got too hot for the windows. I am now putting in new windows and duct work so that room will be cooled. I was told the original windows would last a lifetime. What do you think.
ever since we had the gas filled windows, we had to have them all re-insulated.. now they are okay, although a bit leaky when the ice defrosts off them ??? also our living rm. and dining rm. windows which are wooden windows and original where so pretty we only had new storms made for them and now we cannot see out of them all winter long.. they get all steamed up.. i have no idea as to what i can do.. caulked them beyond belief on the inside.. and still the same problem.. never had a problem with any of the windows when they were all the old originals.. any advis, anyone?????
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT WOULD CAUSE WINDOWS TO STEAM UP BADLY, ON THE INSIDE... CAULKED THEM ALL OVER INSIDE.. SEEMS WHEN WE CHANGED THE FURNACE TO GAS FORCED AIR, IS WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED.. WE HAD GRAVITY HEAT BEFORE... WE HAVE ALL NEW WINDOWS EXCEPT FOR THE DINING RM AND LIVING RM. WHICH WE ONLY REPLACED THE STORMS. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP IT FROM STEAMING UP IS TO PUT PLASTIC ON THEM AND THAT LOOKS TERRIBLE IN THOSE ROOMS.. THEN THE PLASTIC JUST ACCUMUALTES DROPLETS OF WATER.. WE HAD SOMEONE COME OUT AND THEY INSULATED ALL THE WINDOWS AND STILL NO SOLUTION.. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. THANKS
Originally posted by Fran Lodge: I having to remove my gas filled windows because you can't see out of them. I've had them for 15 years. The room they were in was a side porch with no air/heating unit and I was told it got too hot for the windows. I am now putting in new windows and duct work so that room will be cooled. I was told the original windows would last a lifetime. What do you think.
djack44@aol.com Hi Fran..I am having the same problem after 13 years. Did you ever get a response? Is there anyway to repair windows like this? Thanks for any info you may provide.
Originally posted by CLAR: ever since we had the gas filled windows, we had to have them all re-insulated.. now they are okay, although a bit leaky when the ice defrosts off them ??? also our living rm. and dining rm. windows which are wooden windows and original where so pretty we only had new storms made for them and now we cannot see out of them all winter long.. they get all steamed up.. i have no idea as to what i can do.. caulked them beyond belief on the inside.. and still the same problem.. never had a problem with any of the windows when they were all the old originals.. any advis, anyone?????
djack44@aol.com Hi Clar, Can you tell me how you re-insulated the gas filled windows? I had no clue this could be done. We have sliding glass doors that were fine until the winter last year and now we can barely see out of them. Thanks for any help.
Windows are filled with argon gas, which is harmless and completely inert. However, there is no way to know whether the argon remains in the window or not. In any case, the argon does not contribute enough to the insulating value of the window to make a dramatic difference. It makes a small and valuable difference, but that's all.
It isn't apparent from the messages above whether the moisture appears inside the house, or between the panes of the insulating glass. If it appears inside the house, either there is too much humidity inside the house, or the heating is not properly placed below the window, or both.
If there is too much humidity, kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans should be used, or installed and used if there are none. If the heating isn't placed properly, there isn't much that reasonably can be done.
If the moisture appears between the panes of insulating glass, then there is a leak into that space, and usually the cheapest cure is to either replace the entire window, or at least the offending pane. Check with your windows' manufacturer for their guarantees on the glass; some are very long, and they may replace your glass for you.
Architect (NY) and Home Designer (PA)
Posts: 2265 | Location: Tobyhanna, PA | Registered: 24 October 2005
Originally posted by Richard Hetzel: Windows are filled with argon gas, which is harmless and completely inert. However, there is no way to know whether the argon remains in the window or not. In any case, the argon does not contribute enough to the insulating value of the window to make a dramatic difference. It makes a small and valuable difference, but that's all.
It isn't apparent from the messages above whether the moisture appears inside the house, or between the panes of the insulating glass. If it appears inside the house, either there is too much humidity inside the house, or the heating is not properly placed below the window, or both.
If there is too much humidity, kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans should be used, or installed and used if there are none. If the heating isn't placed properly, there isn't much that reasonably can be done.
If the moisture appears between the panes of insulating glass, then there is a leak into that space, and usually the cheapest cure is to either replace the entire window, or at least the offending pane. Check with your windows' manufacturer for their guarantees on the glass; some are very long, and they may replace your glass for you.
Hi Richard, Thank you so much for your help. It seems like the moisture first appeared on the inside of the glass but when I tried to wipe it off, only a little came off and I noticed it was between panes. I guess I will have to replace the sliding door or at least that one side as you said. (sigh). It is strange that only the side that opens is affected by the moisture. Thanks again Richard & have a great nite!!
Maybe not so strange...that's the side you move, and maybe over the years, the movement twisted the door slightly, or maybe slamming it open or shut broke a seal, or maybe the seal just failed...the world hasn't made a perfect product yet, even though we get close to it.
If there is a leak that lets moisture into the space between the panes, it's probably the same leak that let the argon gas escape to the atmosphere. Argon is funny stuff...it can neither be created nor destroyed, if memory serves me correctly. So your argon will someday get collected and pumped into somebody else's window, but maybe their argon is being pumped into your replacement glass.
Don't forget to check with the manufacturer of your doors, if you know who it was...that glass might still be under warranty, especially if it's one of the better-known names in windows and doors. Some of their warranties go way out for many years.
Architect (NY) and Home Designer (PA)
Posts: 2265 | Location: Tobyhanna, PA | Registered: 24 October 2005
Originally posted by Richard Hetzel: Maybe not so strange...that's the side you move, and maybe over the years, the movement twisted the door slightly, or maybe slamming it open or shut broke a seal, or maybe the seal just failed...the world hasn't made a perfect product yet, even though we get close to it.
If there is a leak that lets moisture into the space between the panes, it's probably the same leak that let the argon gas escape to the atmosphere. Argon is funny stuff...it can neither be created nor destroyed, if memory serves me correctly. So your argon will someday get collected and pumped into somebody else's window, but maybe their argon is being pumped into your replacement glass.
Don't forget to check with the manufacturer of your doors, if you know who it was...that glass might still be under warranty, especially if it's one of the better-known names in windows and doors. Some of their warranties go way out for many years.
Hi Richard, Thanks for the info. I will try & find any paperwork on those doors (2) and see if maybe they are still under warranty. Lets hope. I am amazed with the argon info. Thanks again for all your help. Hope you have a great day today!
