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What Is A Seal Failure / Failed Unit?
A “failed thermal unit” is when the insulation inside the glass expires. This usually occurs within 10-20 year span depending on the quality of fabrication.
When a thermal unit becomes “failed” the glass will begin to show signs of:
Foggy / Moisture Build-Up
Mould / Mildew Build-Up
Water Leaks Within The Glass
Corrosion Between The Glass
What Determines the Right Fix
Every window is different, so we don’t price blind over the phone. What the job needs depends on the window type, the number of panes, the size, and the glass itself — clear, Low-E, tempered, tinted. We assess those on-site as one system, explain what we’re seeing, and only then talk options. You get a recommendation you understand, not a number pulled from the air.
Why IGUs / Double-Paned Windows / Thermal Unit Glass Fail
Although double-paned windows appear to be stable, they actually experience a daily cycle of expansion and contraction caused by weather conditions (heat & cold). Sunlight heats the airspace between the panes and causes the gas between the glass to heat up and expand; pressurizing the space between the panes. At night, the windows cool and the space between the panes contract. Over time the constant pressure fluctuations caused by the temperature differences will stress the seal. Eventually, the seal will develop small fractures that will slowly grow in size allowing increasing amounts of infiltration and exfiltration of air and water from the space between the panes.
Why Glass Units Fail
Windows on the sunny side of a home will experience larger temperature swings. This results in greater amounts of thermal pumping, seal stress and failure rates. Vinyl window frames have a higher co-efficiency of expansion resulting in greater long-term stress on the double-pane assembly. This results in a much higher failure rate. Windows also experience batch failure which describes production runs of windows. This means that the pane assemblies have been manufactured with seals that have small defects that will cause the window to fail prematurely.
What Does A Failed Window Unit Look Like?
If not repaired the window condensation will inevitably lead to irreversible physical window damage. This damage can appear in the following two ways:
Mould & Mildew: Condensed vapor between the glass panes will form droplets that run down the length of the window. Water that descends in this fashion has the tendency to follow narrow paths and carve grooves into the glass surface. Because of this, there will be a build-up of mould & mildew.
Water Leaks: Due to the broken seal, the glass will be consistently leaking water and in turn, creating further damages to the hardware underneath and the frame casement.
Glass Options
Clear Glass.
This is a typical glass used to create thermal unit glass. Most residential homes that were built as cookie cutters communities are usually equipped with the standard clear on clear IGU insulated glass units. If you are looking for an inexpensive option to replace a broken or foggy window, this is your go to solution.
Rain, Frosted, Coloured, Reflective, Mirrored Glass.
Frosted, Grey, Reflective, Mirrored Glass
These types of custom glass option are for privacy and aesthetics. Having reflective or mirrored glass properties means that people will have a hard time seeing in but you can clearly see out. The darker the room is the more transparent the glass will be. Frosted glass typically used for bathroom and main entrances. Frosted glass is also known as privacy glass because it is impossible to see it however you are still able to get natural light from the glass.
Low-Emissivity (Low-E) Glass.
Low-E is a thin, transparent coating that reflects heat. In the winter when the heat inside your home tries to escape, the low-e coating reflects the heat back inside, reducing heat loss. The reverse happens during summer.
A Low-E coating can help keep your home cool on a hot day by reducing the exterior heat entering your home. This can be very nice when you are trying to save on air conditioning cost in the summers and on heating costs in the winter. On a cold day it can keep most of the interior heat from escaping through the glass thus saving the life of your furnace and lowering your home heating cost. Low-E glass also reduces the amount of ultraviolet (UV) light entering the home helping to protect your carpets, upholstery and furniture from fading.
Tempered Glass.
This type of glass is toughened by applying heat and cooling treatment. It is an additional step in the process of creating an IGU. A balance of high compressive stresses at the surface and tensile stresses in the center of the glass increases its strength. The result is a glass that is 5 times stronger than ordinary with the same thickness!
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re here to answer all your questions! Feel free to contact us via E-Mail or Phone today to get more info!
How long does it take to get the work done?
The entire process takes two trips - We first need to come in to take our own measurements, and order your glass unit(s) .. there’s a 2-3 week fabrication timeline and after that we come back to install.
Why is my window foggy?
Your window is foggy due to a "seal failure" - essentially meaning that the insulation inside the glass has expired and is now allowing moisture to settle in. Ultimately, losing heat and allows cold drafts to come into your home.
Does the glass come with warranty?
All of our glass units have a 5 year manufacturers warranty for any fogginess that occurs inside the glass unit. However, they have a life expectancy of 15-20 years.
When broken can you replace just one side?
You cannot just replace one side because both layers of glass are connected together by a hollow spacer that contains the insulating properties. This is why a dual pane glass is referred to as a "double or dual pane thermal unit"
What is the glass insulated with?
All of our units are insulated with argon gas in between the glass panes and also include a desiccant that's embedded within the aluminum spacer, found amongst the perimeter of the glass unit.
Am I losing heat in my home with foggy windows?
With foggy windows you are losing up to 60% of the windows energy efficiency. Not only will you lose heat, but cold drafts will also come into your home through the foggy glass...Which in turn, raises your energy bills quite significantly.
