Double Glazed Windows

[MAXWELL]

The double glazed units on my bedroom windows have failed allowing condensation to build up inside the glass unit, I have been told that as temporary measure you can drill a small hole in the inside piece of glass and this will help to ease the problem. Can anyone tell me if this works

[Whickerman]

The original idea with double glazing was to keep sound out and heat in. The space between the glass was supposed to be a vacuum, thus reducing outside noise. Sounds like you don't need to worry about that. If you drill glass, you're more than likely going to shatter it though.

[Dom Tuk]

in reality could you maintain a vacuum between 2 sheets of glass at atmospheric pressure for any length of time. Probably not, atleast not in a domestic environment for years. So a bit of condensation should not affect the thermal quality of the double glazing.

[john91]

I think you'll find they are filled with dry nitrogen, you couldn't have a vacuum, a vacuum would exert approx' 14 lbs per sq ins on the glass, just under a ton per sq ft, so a window say 4ft X 3ft would have about 10 ton pressing on it, regards the hole, I think you'll struggle to drill one in the glass ( it might even be toughened ) and if you took the unit out and drilled one through the metal / rubber seal, would you be able to get the condensation out?

[Whickerman]

Trying to post a link for John91...

Atarget='_blank' href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulated_glazing

[Whickerman]

Ok - that link will work if when you get to wikipedia you remove the </p> from the address.

It's a link to the section on vacuum applications in domestic double glazing, so nah nah, nah nah nah. :-)

[markja]

just a thought, if you are going to get the window units redone then attempting to put a hole in it isn't an option.i don't even know if they can be 'redone'

[john91]

As Whickerman says, there is is a ref' in wikipedia to vacuum units, but the fact is that under vacuum conditions the 2 sheets of glass would touch each other in the middle in a domestic size window, if they hadn't broken, I checked with a local double glazing manufacturer ( not installer ) who tells me that his and most other units are just filled with air and silica gel to remove the condensation.

[thrustmaster]

I have worked in the fitting of upvc windows for nearly 20 years and can confidently state that the only solution for a failed DGU is to renew it completely............expect the cost to be around �20 per square metre for supply only.

[ianess]

I've heard of that suggestion as regards plastic double glazed windows in touring caravans, where sometimes there's a small plug in a bottom corner that can be removed to allow condensation to escape. Never heard of anything similar for domestic glass and I certainly wouldn't recommend it. I think you'll be looking at a replacement unit to solve your problem.

[0845glassman]

We now have the solution to this problem.We can repair them here in the uk at half the cost of replacement on site in twenty minutes as we now have the master licence for the uk check out www.defogit .com Drilling a hole only will not work but it is part of our process

[Glazier]

The only way two solve the problem is by replacing the failed unit, however this in not a DIY job. Pease contact cloudy2clear windows who will provide you with a quote. www.cloudy2clearwindows.co.uk