Misted-up double glazing
 

I've had a few double-glazed window panels installed in wooden frames about
8 years ago. There's now quite a lot of condensation between the panes. Is
there any system for removing this, short of replacing the panels?

We're in a conservation area, so any replacement would have to be the same
sort of thing - double-glazed panels in wooden frames.

Misted-up double glazing
 

GB wrote:
I've had a few double-glazed window panels installed in wooden frames about
8 years ago. There's now quite a lot of condensation between the panes. Is
there any system for removing this, short of replacing the panels?

We're in a conservation area, so any replacement would have to be the same
sort of thing - double-glazed panels in wooden frames.

IIUC replacement of the sealed units is the only way to really fix this.

You can get replacement sealed units relatively cheaply if you go to a
suitable supplier. Fitting them correctly will also minimise the chances
of them re-misting too soon. As long as the frames are still in good
nick there is no need to replace them (and even if they are not so good,
they are repairable being wood!)

--
Cheers,

John.

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Misted-up double glazing
 

"GB" wrote in message
...
I've had a few double-glazed window panels installed in wooden frames
about
8 years ago. There's now quite a lot of condensation between the panes. Is
there any system for removing this, short of replacing the panels?

We're in a conservation area, so any replacement would have to be the same
sort of thing - double-glazed panels in wooden frames.




Replacement is the only viable solution. Look up your warranty. Units used
to have a 10 year guarantee although most manufacturers have stopped this
due to too many claims but you might just be lucky.
Decent replacement windows should have glazing beads retained by screws.
Still not trivial to remove but easier than puttied in ones.
Re-seal with the correct mastic for the job and fit new stainless screws
(quite cheap these days from screwfix).
Units are very heavy and you will almost certainly need an assistant and
some vacuum sucker handles to position them in the frame.The units should
rest on hard rubber/plastic shims available from your glazier.

Good luck

bob

Misted-up double glazing
 

The message
from "GB" contains these words:

Is there any system for removing this, short of replacing the panels?

Realisticaly? No.

We're in a conservation area, so any replacement would have to be the same
sort of thing - double-glazed panels in wooden frames.

Why replace the whole thing? Take the failed units out and run them
along to your local glazier and get a replacement.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Misted-up double glazing
 

Thanks for all the very clear info.

I'll see if I can trace the builders on the off-chance there was a guarantee
on the units - unlikely.

I take it that there is no hope of drilling a coupe of tiny holes in the
interior panes and trying to dry these out? Two of the windows are quite
big - say 2' x 4' and would these be toughened glass?
The other two are just over 1' x 2'.

I remember watching one of the local glaziers making up a sealed unit a few
years ago. He filled the spacer bars with some dessicant material. An
excellent idea, except that he kept the dessicant in an open bin in his
shop, and it must have been full of moisture. Of course, by the time the
unit was completed, there was no way to tell.

Where do you go to to get units that will have been made with a bit more
care than that?

Misted-up double glazing
 

"GB" wrote in message
...
Thanks for all the very clear info.

I'll see if I can trace the builders on the off-chance there was a
guarantee
on the units - unlikely.

I take it that there is no hope of drilling a coupe of tiny holes in the
interior panes and trying to dry these out? Two of the windows are quite
big - say 2' x 4' and would these be toughened glass?
The other two are just over 1' x 2'.

I remember watching one of the local glaziers making up a sealed unit a
few
years ago. He filled the spacer bars with some dessicant material. An
excellent idea, except that he kept the dessicant in an open bin in his
shop, and it must have been full of moisture. Of course, by the time the
unit was completed, there was no way to tell.

Where do you go to to get units that will have been made with a bit more
care than that?



Minimal likelyhood of successful drying existing units. The spacers in DG
units already have dessicant built in.

No option but to open the wallet I'm afraid!


Bob

Misted-up double glazing
 

The message
from "GB" contains these words:

Two of the windows are quite
big - say 2' x 4' and would these be toughened glass?

Toughened glass will have an etch in the corner to say so.

Your chances of drying it out are miniscule. The metal strip that spaces
the panels is filled with silica gel to absorb any moisture that gets
in. It's been swamped already and will need to be dried before you can
get the result.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Caravan windows was: Misted-up double glazing
 

On Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:53:28 +0100, Guy King wrote:

|The message
|from "GB" contains these words:
|
| Two of the windows are quite
| big - say 2' x 4' and would these be toughened glass?
|
|Toughened glass will have an etch in the corner to say so.
|
|Your chances of drying it out are miniscule. The metal strip that spaces
|the panels is filled with silica gel to absorb any moisture that gets
|in. It's been swamped already and will need to be dried before you can
|get the result.


Perhaps somebody knows why caravan double glazed plastic windows work OK?
They have a hole to the *inside* with a plastic plug containing a tiny
hole, again to the inside. There is no silica gel evident.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

Caravan windows was: Misted-up double glazing
 

Dave Fawthrop laid this down on his screen :
On Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:53:28 +0100, Guy King wrote:

The message
from "GB" contains these words:

Two of the windows are quite
big - say 2' x 4' and would these be toughened glass?

Toughened glass will have an etch in the corner to say so.

Your chances of drying it out are miniscule. The metal strip that spaces
the panels is filled with silica gel to absorb any moisture that gets
in. It's been swamped already and will need to be dried before you can
get the result.


Perhaps somebody knows why caravan double glazed plastic windows work OK?
They have a hole to the *inside* with a plastic plug containing a tiny
hole, again to the inside. There is no silica gel evident.

They simply put the plugs in with the window warm and dry. Should
moisture appear later - the trick is to remove the plugs on a warm dry
day allow the inside to dry out then refit the plugs.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk