If you have fog or moisture between the panes of glass, then you have a broken seal on the IG unit. I'd check the warranty and then contact either Peachtree or the local dealer who installed them.

Thank you. The window is 18 years old so I doubt it's under warrenty but I'll try.

After 18 years, it's best to call a window repair specialist and have them replace the IG unit with a new one, including Low E.

Michael

I disagree, Michael. Most manufacturers offer at least a 20 year warranty on the IG unit. Many offer longer than that. It's at least worth contacting the factory to see what they are willing to do before contacting a glass replacement contractor. Even if the old windows have a low e hardcoat, most manuf. will replace it with soft coat because it's likely they don't make HC any longer.

Our Lake Erie manufactured windows have a lifetime warranty for what ever that means. As I understand, the glass is waranteed but not the labor to replace the window. It would be interesting to know why a window looses its seal.

Thw window lost its seal surrounding the two glasses because it has failed. Somehow a leak occurrd in the insulated glass cartridge seal. Is vey common for a twenty uear window.
Most warranties may be lifetime, but the exclusions, if you read them, tells you twenty different ways the the warranty would be null and void. Read one. Imroper installation and effects from weather void their glass warranty.
Don' waste your time. Its time for new windows.
I am a window installer for thirty years and perhaps 33% of the window I remove are only 10 years old and theuir no good anymore. All vinyl replacement windows all look alike. Its the features and benefits inside that make the difference in a good window.
I mean when you bought your windows you though that you were noly buying them once.
I haven't seen a window that, lasts forver.
Educate yourself to the new glass technologies and warm edge spacers and find a reputable dealer that guarantees he work.

The Porch Guy

Here is a link that might be useful: My album

sky,

they might replace the IG. However, Mr Homeowner may receive and IG unit via UPS. Does Mr Homeowner know how to disassemble a wood sash and replace the IG unit?

Michael

Michael,

I don't know what exactly what Peachtree will and won't do. In many cases the factory will ship a brand new sash if the glass seal is still covered under warranty. That would at least get the customer a new sash and many people find little difficulty installing the new sash themselves.

My point to the OP is that it is at least worth contacting the manuf. first, to see what they will do before contacting a glass company who is definitely going to charge them for the glass, reglazing and grids if the existing window has them.

If the glass is 18 years old, the warranties of that era were generally 5-10 years. Currently seal technologies are longer-lasting than those of the short past, and thus offer the longer warranty of 20 years (the best insulated glass warranties are non-prorated at 20 years).

Modern insulated glass (IG) units typically contain two sealing components in butyl and silicone. One is a water/moisture proof membrane and the other is the structural component. Old technology utilized aluminum spacer bars, whereas new technology offers stainless steel spacers due to steel being far less conductive than aluminum (thus steel doesn't transfer the outside temperatures to indoors as much).

When the butyl membrane or silicone has become compromised, it allows a break in the "seal". This break allows moisture to infiltrated the hermetically sealed "gas" chamber between the two panes of glass. The common result is viewed as a fog between the glass. If the IG contains soft-coated low emmissivity technology (current tech), the inside glass surface will develop unsightly black spots over a short period of time. In contrast, old technology hard coat low-e products were not adversely affected by moisture, but also did not provide as much energy efficient, and asthetic benefits as the new soft coat products.

Technically, IG manufacturers test their seals and provide a half-life for the warranties. If a consumer is lucky, a modern IG unit may endure a maximum life of 40 years. It is then more practical to purchase a window that could potentially last 100+ years, as the whole window does not need to be replaced after the glass seal has failed. 100 year life windows are readily available, but they certainly aren't made of plastic/vinyl. Just like anything else, one gets what they pay for in life.

Windows are considered a permanent fixture in my construction business, just like the concrete foundation, electrical wiring, framing studs and plumbing. These items should never have to be replaced. Sure, at some point in time, the plumbing may need new washers, the wiring may need a new switch, and the windows may need new glass, but the costs to completely replace these fixtures is so high that it pays to buy the best products during the initial construction.

Remember, even the best made products need new replacement components over time, just like that Swiss watch in need of a new band or batteries. The important factor is that you don't need to buy a whole new watch.

I've notice a few of my windows are starting to fog as well. They are by Hurd (wood) and 14 years old. Do I need to replace the entire window unit, and how destructive will that be to the exterior trim (which I've just had capped with aluminum) and the interior walls and trim which I've just had painted and stained?