Quick fix not always best
Take the right steps to take to clear up foggy glass
I’ve received many inquiries from homeowners concerned about foggy windows. What they are noticing is their windows are foggy because the sealed glass unit (dual-pane glass) has been compromised, allowing water vapour to get inside the window pane, showing up as moisture or condensation on the inside of the sealed-glass unit.
During my 50-plus years in the home improvement industry, I’ve seen my fair share of products come on the market that do not work as advertised. You may have heard or seen advertising for window “restoration” services, which in some cases offer a 10-year warranty or longer. This service is promoted as a less expensive and less disruptive way to solve the problem of foggy windows when compared with insulated glass or total window replacement.
Typically, these companies will drill small holes in the corners of the glass, then push compressed air through the window to remove moisture. Then they install valves in the holes to allow any moisture that may get inside the window glass to escape. Let me explain to you why this process is fundamentally flawed. A glass window sealed unit is exactly that: a sealed unit.
No air or moisture is supposed to get in between the panes of glass.
If you noticed moisture on the inside of your sealed unit, it is time to replace the window sealed unit or the entire window, including the frame.
By design, a window sealed unit is meant to keep all air and moisture outside. When sealed units are made, they are manufactured in a controlled factory environment to ensure the sealed unit is air-sealed.
It is important to note the quality of a factory-sealed glass unit cannot be replicated outside of a controlled factory environment.
If the sealed unit is allowed to “breathe” or vent, it cannot effectively do what it’s meant to do.
The only way to properly solve the problem of foggy windows is to have new window glass installed (I always recommend going with energy-efficient window glass, such as low-E squared with argon gas), or have a new window installed — including the window glass and frame — such as an energy-efficient, vinyl-framed window.
Replacing your units can cost a little more than the window restoration process, but it is the proper way to address the issue.
WARRANTY WARNING
When purchasing new window glass-sealed units or new windows including the frame, ask what the warranty covers with respect to both labour and material.
We’ve received feedback from customers who had the window-defogging process performed on their windows only to notice moisture again on the inside of the window glass. Some found warranties were not honoured.