building a personal greenhouse
About Me
building a personal greenhouse

It has always been a dream of mine to have a greenhouse that I could use to grow my own produce during the winter. I love garden fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupes and a variety of other produce and it made me sad when I had to quit gardening for the season. I decided that it was time for me to invest in having a greenhouse built in my backyard so that I could continue to grow throughout the entire year. Learn all about the selection of the glass and how it needs to be cared for right here on my blog.

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building a personal greenhouse

Should You Repair Or Replace Your Foggy Storm Window?

Lee Moerman

If you've recently noticed some fogginess or condensation between the panes of your double-pane storm window, you may be concerned about your window's ability to weather the cold and precipitation this winter. However, the prospect of replacing an unbroken window could seem costly and wasteful. Are there any options that can restore your window to like-new condition without costing you an arm and a leg? Read on to learn more about the potential causes of this fogginess, as well as the factors you should consider when deciding whether repair or replacement is the better option. 

What causes condensation or fogginess in double-pane windows? 

Double-pane windows are designed to be ultra-energy efficient -- the argon or krypton gas between these panes helps slow the transmission of heat through the window, helping keep cold air outside in winter and hot air outside in summer. However, these windows aren't entirely airtight, and over time small holes in the glass or breaches in the rubber seals could allow moisture into this empty space, causing fogginess or periodic condensation.

In most cases, this fogginess is a cosmetic issue only -- it doesn't mean your window needs to be replaced. However, if there is a small hole in your window permitting this condensation to form, this usually means your window is not operating at maximum efficiency and may be allowing cold air to seep into your home. 

Should your window be repaired or replaced? 

If you simply want to eliminate your window's foggy appearance and haven't noticed any draftiness or cold air emanating from your window or around the frame, you may be able to have your window professionally "de-fogged" at a relatively low cost. During this process, a contractor will drill a tiny hole into your window and spray a chemical solvent between the panes of glass -- as this chemical dries, it will eliminate any water vapor and help restore your window's clarity.

However, for situations in which your window pane is visibly damaged or you've noticed some draftiness, more thorough repair may be in order. In many cases, you may be able to have a glazier remove and replace one of the damaged panes of glass without requiring the replacement of your entire window. While your repaired double-pane window won't include the argon or krypton gas found in new double-pane windows, this fix should provide you with the same level of efficiency and protection from heat transfer as your original window.  

One situation in which replacement of the entire window may be in order is if you've noticed damage to the wooden or aluminum frame around your window. This type of damage is often difficult to repair without affecting the structural integrity of your window, and often purchasing and installing a new window is less expensive than trying to troubleshoot the damage to the old window.

For more information, talk to a professional like Healy Anytime Glass Co.


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