Gas Filled Windows Failing

[pluspea]

I admit these vinyl windows are nice and easy to clean but I had trouble as far back as the 1980s with them failing. I had installed alside in my current home some years back, and in the last few months have ordered seven either lower or upper under warranty to replace the defective ones. I broke two of those coil things that hold them in place and will have to purchase more to repair. Overall they have been a pain and will include a pic of one of the worse examples. Anyone else?

 

[sureshotbob]

I've had to replace a few myself over the years.

 

[brick]

It appears that the seal in the insulated glazing has failed and is allowing moisture between the panes of glass.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I've got one window that is doing that now...been in place 5-6 years probably.

 

[Geno44]

Anyone care to share brands on these defective units?

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

My cheap plastic contractor grade windows have had zero problems. The fancy double pane, gas filled, scientific windows that we had installed in part of the house - at the wife's insistence(nagging) - kept cracking in cold weather and being replaced, although they were under warranty, who needs the hassle and broken windows in the winter (well what passes for winter here is cold to us)? No more.

 

[bigwheelzip]

These were my favorite types of windows in Europe and have been available in the US for years. They operate like your gun safe door.

European Windows Online

YouTube

 

[rkwood]

My house was built 18 years ago and we installed gas-filled windows by Milgard. In 18 years, only the windows above the kitchen sink on the south side of the house have needed replacement. Milgard replaced those windows promptly and courteously. I would definitely buy from them again.

Randy

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[LoboGunLeather]

Had 13 replaced last year. Original to the home, now 17 years old. 20-year factory warranty, manufacturer was purchased by another company but that company is still honoring the warranty by providing the window units, but we had to pay the labor ($450).

Now the only problem remaining is the hardware. Lock mechanism on 3 windows has broken, no replacement parts available. For the time being I have pinned the locks in the closed position and we just can't open those windows. I suspect that we will be shopping for new window units in the future.

 

[345sire]

Don't buy yet.

Had 13 replaced last year. Original to the home, now 17 years old. 20-year factory warranty, manufacturer was purchased by another company but that company is still honoring the warranty by providing the window units, but we had to pay the labor ($450).

Now the only problem remaining is the hardware. Lock mechanism on 3 windows has broken, no replacement parts available. For the time being I have pinned the locks in the closed position and we just can't open those windows. I suspect that we will be shopping for new window units in the future.

That's only around $35 a window, not bad for labor. They are not out to get you, thank goodness.

Before you plunk down money on new windows due to hardware, take a peek here. As a remodeler, I have used this place a few times.

Online Catalogs – Blaine Window Hardware Inc.

You might find what you need here.

 

[500SNW]

I'm having all kinds of trouble with my windows these days. Some of them won't lock because the frames appear to be warped. I broke a spring or two, and had one fog up just like the OP. The seals on gas filled windows eventually go bad over enough years IMHO. One way to notice is that sound penetrates them better as the years go by. I remember when I first got them installed, cars passing on the road outside made an eerie sounding muffled "swoosh" which took some getting used to. It sounded like I had a jar over my ear. Nowdays, I often have to check to see if the window is open because outside sounds are so loud. I got mine installed back in 1993...so I won't even bother checking to see if they are under warranty. I'll just live with it for a while longer.

 

[TXSWFAN]

I admit these vinyl windows are nice and easy to clean but I had trouble as far back as the 1980s with them failing. I had installed alside in my current home some years back, and in the last few months have ordered seven either lower or upper under warranty to replace the defective ones. I broke two of those coil things that hold them in place and will have to purchase more to repair. Overall they have been a pain and will include a pic of one of the worse examples. Anyone else?

Cant tell for sure, but your pic seems to show a low-e failure and not a seal failure.

By "coil things", if you mean the mechanisms that look like the inside of a tape measure would, they're called a Constant Force Balance System.

 

[Steve912]

The seals on gas filled windows eventually go bad over enough years IMHO. One way to notice is that sound penetrates them better as the years go by.

Nowdays, I often have to check to see if the window is open because outside sounds are so loud.

I think that's probably a weather stripping problem, around the
moving section. Over time it compresses, or picks up dirt, or
just wears out, and you end up with small air gaps that let
outside noise pass more easily.

 

[345sire]

I think that's probably a weather stripping problem, around the
moving section. Over time it compresses, or picks up dirt, or
just wears out, and you end up with small air gaps that let
outside noise pass more easily.

Steve you are almost certainly correct.

And by the way, 500SNW, depending on the window maker, weatherstripping is another place where replacing may be an option.

 

[LVSteve]

The trick to avoiding issues with locks and weatherstripping is to never open the windows. If you live in Southern Nevada or Southern Arizona you will know just what I mean. Opening the windows just lets in dust and allergens, not fresh air. I have explained this MANY times to visitors from the UK or recent transplants from the midwest, but my comments clearly hit the "does not compute" firewall.

 

[joe44va]

Just replace three 55" by 50" Curadco windows for the same type of thing. They were 22 years old. Put in Anderson's.

 

[345sire]

windows more than hole in wall

The trick to avoiding issues with locks and weatherstripping is to never open the windows. If you live in Southern Nevada or Southern Arizona you will know just what I mean. Opening the windows just lets in dust and allergens, not fresh air. I have explained this MANY times to visitors from the UK or recent transplants from the midwest, but my comments clearly hit the "does not compute" firewall.

I understand not wanting allergens and dust in our homes, but I would hate to live where I couldn't get fresh air in now and again.
The best filtration still recycles old air.
A lot of newer homes are actually built too tight, not letting a decent exchange of air into the home environment.

Some better builders have designed in circulation systems into homes built tighter to handle heat and cooling issues, to deal with just such hassles.

There's even a phrase describing the poor systems that allow pollutants to ferment, called "sick building syndrome" .

 

[345sire]

Just replace three 55" by 50" Curadco windows for the same type of thing. They were 22 years old. Put in Anderson's.

You'll get a lot more than 22 years from your Andersons. Even their lesser feature endowed windows hold up.
And Anderson backs their stuff wonderfully, making good on the occasional (but inevitable ) failure of hardware or even rotted frames. And parts are available even for many of their products going back a hundred years.

No, I'm not employed by Anderson, but I install a lot of their stuff. And sometimes work on damaged or wornout ones.

 

[Mercs]

On vinyl windows, if the frame is good but the glass has failed, you just use a putty knife or similar to remove the 4 vinyl "keepers" or whatever they're called on the edges of the glass. After that all that's holding the glass in is some crappy foam seal on the outside edge, which again you just slip a putty knife in there and break the seal on the foam until the glass falls right out. I then measure the glass, Order a replacement double pained glass, and install it. Use high quality window caulk to reseal the outside edge. Takes about 15 minutes per window. Costs a couple hundred for a really nice large one... that's a drop in the bucket compared to new windows. It's just a huge scam, unless you need new frames


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[LVSteve]

On vinyl windows, if the frame is good but the glass has failed, you just use a putty knife or similar to remove the 4 vinyl "keepers" or whatever they're called on the edges of the glass. After that all that's holding the glass in is some crappy foam seal on the outside edge, which again you just slip a putty knife in there and break the seal on the foam until the glass falls right out. I then measure the glass, Order a replacement double pained glass, and install it. Use high quality window caulk to reseal the outside edge. Takes about 15 minutes per window. Costs a couple hundred for a really nice large one... that's a drop in the bucket compared to new windows. It's just a huge scam, unless you need new frames


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Unless you had your house custom built in this city, you will need new frames. It may still be the case here that the codes allow the use of aluminum frames forming a wonderful heat path into the house. That's special.

Mind you, even if the code were different, this city couldn't enforce it. This city can't enforce a building code until something is about to fall on them. See here. The Harmon - Wikipedia