locally a glass company replaces the 2 pane sealed units. you take the assembly frame and glass in by 8 am, pick up after 3 pm. 80 bucks for a large picture window, half of a double hung 65 bucks.
are you replacing the entire window every time a pane leaks?
No, can't afford it. They look like crap with all the condensation between the two windows. I figure that when I get embarrassed enough by the way they look, I will finally do something about it. I was thinking if there was a single pane solution, I'd just get it done once and be done with it.
Yes. I assume you're talking about window sashes here: if they're fixed windows, you'll have to have the glass people come out to your house.
Take the sash to a door and window place and have it single-glazed. Simple.
There's not a hell of a lot of difference in the R-values between single and double-glazed windows. Every little bit helps, of course, but it's not as if your house is going to turn into a freezer (or an oven) if you use single glazing. I actually think double-glazing is highly overrated.
I didn't say it doesn't make *any* difference: read what I wrote.
Here's a site with comparative R-values for various window types:
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Here's the relevant info from that site:
type winter summer
-------------------------------- Single-pane 0.9 0.96 Double-pane .25" air space 1.72 1.64 .5" air space 2.04 1.78 Triple-pane .25" air space 2.56 2.27 .5" air space 3.22 2.56
The good thing is that double-glazing *almost* doubles the window's R-value, and triple-glazing almost triples it.
The bad thing is that the R-value is low in any case. Windows, even triple-glazed ones, are heat-losers (or non-keepers-out in summer). Compare these R-values to that of an insulated wall, for example, which will typically be anywhere from R-16 to R-22.
Research payback and energy savings the numbers are there, air infiltration is something you have not considered. If you figure LowEargon its much higher. You want real insulation, look at Alpen or Loewen R 7 windows.
Not where it gets down to zero F on a regular basis. If you go single pane you WILL need storm windows..
Get quality double glazed replacement units and they will last a lot longer than 10 years. The good stuff uses a thermal break spacer instead of the aluminum that was common in the past, and uses a triple mastic seal. 3 different kinds of "glue" if you will, to seal the glass units. Minimum of 2. he old sealed units just used one, which had a tendancy to fail after a few years of expansion/contraction from temperature changed. Vibration or use of a pressure washer to clean the windows sped up the deterioration.
Call a window company. They measure the glass accurately and order new sealed units, which they change in less than half an hour each, with the window in place.
You can get low E2 Argon for a very small premium over standard glazing - and the good thermal units will last a LONG time.
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