Glass & Condensation
This is an unfortunate thing that happens to double glazed sealed units over time. The seal moves when the glass temperature changes, and eventually gets broken. This causes a misting or moisture between the two panes of glass, and will only get worse.
Theres no way of repairing the glass unit in situe, I would have to come and measure the size and type of sealed unit, then order a replacement.
Upgrading Of Sealed Units
I normally replace sealed units on a like-for-like basis, but it is possible to use the latest energy efficient glass, and the various options that come with this, to try and increase the thermal performance of your existing windows & doors.
Example:
A customer had a very wide set of sliding patio doors, but complained the amount of glass caused their room to be uncomfortably bright and hot. I installed Self-Cleaning Active glass, which is the same type as used in conservatory roofs. This glass has a slight tint to it, which reduced the glare from the sun, controlled the temperature and as a bonus cleaned itself.
Smashed/Broken Glass
Although I don’t do emergency glazing, if you have accidently broken/smashed a glass unit, I can install a new one in the same way as I would for misted up units.
Example:
Lawn cutting, when a strimmer flicks a stone through a window/door, but only breaks one side of the double glazed unit. Depending on the size and type of glass, it can often work out much cheaper coming straight to me, rather than your through your home insurance. After you add the cost of the claim excess, and increased cost of future renewals, it can be cheaper and much easier dealing direct with me.
Condensation occurs when moisture in the air around us, gets warm and turns back to its liquid form (condenses).
This is very often mistaken as damp, because the moisture often soaks into the walls around windows and doors.
The reason condensation occurs around windows and doors, is the inside room temperature, is usually many times greater than the temperature outside. This means the warm and cold air meet on the glass and condense, which then runs off the glass and soaks into the surrounding walls. This then causes mould, which apart from looking horrible, makes the air unhealthy to breath.
Reduction Solutions
There is no way to completely prevent condensation, but by circulating the air in your home, and making your windows & doors not transfer the cold so easily, it should create a more stable indoor temperature.
Air Circulation
Trickle Ventilators provide what is known as background ventilation. This basically means they ventilate all the time, without it being obvious to you, and you shouldn’t feel any draughts. These are a requirement on new houses and extensions, but not on older replacement windows.
In most cases (unless your frames are heavily reinforced), I can cut slots into the existing window/door frames, and fit trickle ventilators.
These have a mesh on the outside to prevent flies/insects entering, and a simple switch inside, so you can close them if required.
Preventing Cold Transfer
Almost all windows and doors before 2010, used a strip of metal between the two panes of glass, and oxygen inside the sealed unit. These both act as a ‘bridge’ for the cold from outside, to meet the warm inside.
I can replace your existing sealed units, with Low-E glass that has a composite strip between the two panes, and filled with Argon gas. These are normally used in modern replacement windows & doors, but fitting these into your old frames, can improve their thermal performance.
The result of changing the glass, usually means any condensation occurs on the outside, rather than the inside.
All the work is carried out by me, to my own high standards.