Defogging double pane windows

[Reed]

Anyone have any experience with this outfit ??

Ads appearing in local paper for what appears to be a franchise operation that has a method of cleaning fogged-up windows without replacing glass.

Anyone tried this ?? Pricing ?? Effectiveness ??

--reed

[dpb]

No. No idea. Only if they can evacuate and replace the inert gas and seal (a tall order :) ) can it be anything more than temporary at best...

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[dpb]

Correction for #1 --

Not I. I'm sure _someone_ has.

:)

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[hallerb]

local glass shops can make new glass sealed units. the one i use take in by 8 am pick up at 4 pm. you take in the effected window section, they are experts at disassembling vinly frames

[RicodJour]

I told a client that the procedure is iffy at best. He took his chances, didn't work.

Replacements are relatively cheap and come with, usually, a ten year guarantee.

R

[Harry K]

Havign gone the "replace the glass section" route and seeing just how those things are built I say that that company is selling smoke and mirrors. I have also cut apart one section for a couple big green house glazing sections. There is no way they can find and seal whatevere leaked to begin with. Best they could do would be.

1. remove the section.
2. insert some sort of sealant.
3. rotate the section several times to make the sealant cover the seal on all four sides.
4. disappear fast before the window fogs again.

Harry K

[EXT]

I agree, having replace some foggy double sealed units, one had the entire side with no adhesion between the glass and the separator. There is no way they could be resealed in place. I have a factory that makes up low E, argon filled high quality units quite cheaply. Actually our local glass shop would measure, order, obtain the units and install them for about 10 times what I pay at the factory. Considering that I did most of the work when the local glass shop installed them, I call it a rip-off.

[Harry K]

I don't know what your price was but...I had two 4x3 sections done (one twice, they did it for free the second time). The price was very reasonable, the installer was just one person and I had to do nothing.

Harry K

[RicodJour]

You're responding to a poster who was commenting on the cost of replacement glazing, but it seems - from your mention of a failure - that you're talking about attempting to reseal a failed unit. I would have thought that the immediate failure would have sent up a red flag for you. Resealing is a hit or miss thing. Many more misses than hits with attempted resealing.

R

[Harry K]

Hmmm...I see where the confusion lies. I wasn't clear. My post was in reference to someone hoveing it done right (by a glass outfit), not the 'reseal scam".

Harry K

[Steve]

Harry K wrote on 18 Jun 2007 in group alt.home.repair:

Here's a summary of the resealing process:

1. Separate the existing glass from the aluminum frame.
2. Remove the adhesive that held the glass to the frame.
3. Clean the glass.
4. Remove the adhesive from the aluminum frame.
5. Assemble the two pieces of glass with the frame, with moisture-free air inside.
6. Apply a sealer around the edges to stop air leaks.

To make a new pane assembly, just do steps 5 and 6.

Anything other than a complete disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly qualifies as a "reseal scam", because it doesn't remove the existing air with moisture in it, and it doesn't get rid of the deposits on the glass.

Steps 1 and 2 have a good chance of breaking the glass. Step 4 has a good chance of ruining the frame. Two pieces of 2 mm glass are worth a few bucks if you buy it by the truckload.

It's not worth paying the labor for steps 1 through 4, especially if the parts are ruined, when a new pane is so cheap.