Fogged & Broken Glass

Insulated glass is made by layering two or more pieces of glass separated by a spacer to create an air pocket between the glass panes.  Inside this pocket, desiccant (a moisture absorbent), is added.  Muttin bars are sometimes added for appearance or gasses (eg., krypton or argon) are added to increase energy efficiency.

Often, the seal which holds the unit together fails.  This seal failure allows air and moisture to enter the air pocket. When the desiccant becomes saturated, moisture begins to appear on the inside of the glass and the unit becomes foggy.

Most windows are made such that glass can be replaced.  Our procedure for glass replacement is to schedule two appointments; one to measure and one to install.  Normally there is a one to two day lag to allow time to manufacture the unit. If the glass is broken, or otherwise poses a danger, we can "board up" the opening with plywood. "Rush jobs" are available. In very rare cases, glass may have to be ordered from the window manufacturer.  This can cause added lead time.

Replacing glass is a very non-invasive procedure, requiring usually less than an hour to install the glass and less than 10 minutes to measure.  Some windows naturally require more time. If so, our installers should be able to tell you while measuring.