reglazing double-pane windows?

[crokett]

Ok, so the house inspector on our current house says that the kitchen window 'shows evidence of fogging between the panes which indicates a failed seal'. The buyer has requested everything in the report be fixed, this was one item I pushed back on because a) I've never seen the fogging and b) the repair is more complicated than I want to deal with. In case she insists, can it even be done I don't think the window sash can come out without taking the window out of the wall. The sash sits in one of those aluminum tracks and is not removeable as far as I know.

[dkhoward]

Some of the double glazed gas filled units that I have on my house feature a replaceable pane set. You must remove a plastic seal along the sides of the pane unit and then the whole double pane sealed unit comes out. You simply tilt in a whole new unit (argon filled, etc), pop in new plastic retaining trim and the job is done.

[silverfox]

Yeah, David...you pretty much just have to replace the double gas filled glass in the frame. Any other method would be almost impossible.
Mike

[Handy Al]

Check with some glass shops around you. I found one near me that will replace the glass for a reasonable amount. If you bring the window in a 9:00, they have it ready by 10:00.

[tfischer]

Been there, done that. It isn't cheap -- like $100 per window for an average window, plus a $100-$150 trip cost -- which makes it much cheaper per window if you have several to do. At least that's the quote I got a couple of years ago when we sold our house.

How's the market in your area? If it's realtively seller-friendly, you should be able to push back. Maybe get a quote, and go down on the price a little... If you can't even see fogging I'd definitely push back. In our old house, virtually every window had mildly visible fogging -- I only replaced 2 that were really bad (one was cracked). There's no way I was going to put in all new windows for a cosmetic problem...

-Tim

[crokett]

I am still pushing back, I've never seen any fogging. The inspector says 'evidence of fogging' not actual fogging. The buyer looked at the house the day it went on the market. then made a full price offer that same afternoon. My agent says the buyer's agent is the one insisting everything be fixed. Apparently since the window MIGHT be fogging it 'is not performing its intended function'. I've already agreed to fix everything else on the list.

[crokett]

Well the window doesn't have to be fixed. My most excellent agent reminded the buyer and her agent that not only are we leaving behind the fridge (new house doesn't have one) we are having the washer and dryer from the new house moved to the current one (ours are better). We could have kept the fridge and sold the extra washer/dryer. The buyer decided that the window doesn't need fixing after all.

[gjensen11]

I have seen the lose of seal in double pane windows several times my old house. Maybe they were cheap or maybe it was the wide swings in Temp 20 in the winter, 120 in the summer(g) The kitchen window and the sliding glass door had failed . Hey they had so much "fogging" the water was starting to bead and run in the inside of the glass. so I call the local glass company because I could not figure out how to get the thing out of the frame. well, they were very nice , I called them with the measurements, they came over and replaced the ones that had failed and the guy showed me how easy it was to take those out ,, Boy did I feel stupid....I dont remember how much it cost,, but because I dont remember, I think is was really cheap for this service Here in Texas...
I think it was like $35 or something But I paid a service charge to get the guy out there and it was still cheap.. Hey you can buy a complete Brand New window for $50 - $100
anyway that is my story (grin)

[Saddiq Nottah]

If your window is leaking, sometimes you can have a specialist replace the seal double pane wimdows but note that this will not replace the insulating gas that escaped. If saving power of each window is important to you, then you have to replace the window. After replacing the seal, however, is always the option of using the environment as it keeps a perfect window elsewhere.

[tfischer]

Holy thread resurrection! My first thought was "wow Crockett is still around??" Miss his posts as well as many others that have fallen away.

[twistsol]

I think 12 years for a resurrected thread may be a new record. I was briefly excited to see Crockett back as well.

[LinuxRandal]

At least I got a good laugh out of this. I thought I was slow, then saw the date and thought if it took him 12 years to reglaze some windows, then I am a sprinter with broken legs.