home Fix label D.I.Y label_important Windows and Doors

Condensation inside Double Glazing?

How do I remove the condensation which has formed between the panes of glazing?

Ian N Bird, March 2007

home Fix label D.I.Y label_important Windows and Doorsdone

Just buy a new unit and stop being tight wads

mark cooper glazing of coventry, November 2016

i have been told to drill a small hole in the top of the window seal and fill with clear screen wash and re seal the hole when full no more steam sorted you cant tell or so ive been told

p head, January 2013

Thats a lot off rubbish,i have been in the double glazing repair business for 25 years,once the dgu has failed you have to replace it, sorry a quick fix will not work, folks keep away from the cowboys,get it replaced with a real tradesman.

stan from glasgow, January 2013

Further clarification.If you would like to waste your time trying to fix units carry on.The problem has been identified as the sealant.That is why hot melt is used instead of a 2 part mix.I have been glazing for 34 years and know for fact this is true.see www.markcooperglazing.co.uk

www.markcooperglazing.co.uk, October 2012

hmmm vacume = nothing of you fill a vacume with gas it is no longer a vacume it is a gas filled cavity

ian, September 2012

2 panes cut to size an cleaned.the bar a hollow tube is cut to length.The 2 longest bars ate filled with silica dessicant .corner clips are added to make rectangular shape.it is laid flat on top of piece of glass.2nd piece is placed on top.gap left between panes filled with hot melt.
Air trapped between panes has moisture.this is removed through perforations in bar and absorbed by crystals.
Over time expansion & contraction occurs due to weather.this breaks seal.new air enters containing new moisture.
Crystals like sponge.can't hold excess water so unit fails mists steams etc.
Only answer new unit!!!.drill glass not if its toughened safety.Fit vent no good because vacuum is lost.

www.markcooperglazing.co.uk, September 2012

check out www.markcooperglazing.co.uk .
I've written a blog about it on Google
I've been glazing 33yrs City & Guilds etc
Get a New double glazed unit!!
5 yrs guarantee No vat
Coventry and surrounding areas
Double glazed unit specialist
Free Advice
All aspects

www.markcooperglazing.co.uk, June 2012

Hey, This is the Best Solution.... or your money back.

1. remove the pan
2. apply a butyl sealing tape along all the existing sealant edges
*** this will 'fix' the existing sealant failure causing the problem
2. drill 1 or 2 or 3 holes in the sealant at the top
3. apply heat via a hair drier on the surface of the pan
4. apply more heat to the bottom inc. the silica.
*** this will drive out the moisture through the drilled holes
---- this will also dry out moisture from the silica
5. now just plug the holes in by way of a glue lubricated screw
6. apply a little more insulation tape on top of the screws

## this'll fix the ever present trapped condensation problem ##
when it does, do send a donation of £10 to a deserving charity.

i have saved you all money here!

chao ;-)

Ali, June 2012

Thought this would help but it has only made it worse

chris m, May 2012

Yes I have to agree, who told anyone there is silica gel in double glazed units, where is it, I cant see it ! why would it be there, if the units are manufactured correctly there will be no moisture in the units.
Silica gel my A...!

Gavnn, September 2011

ok how do i do this

liz schultz, May 2011

I am coming from the common sense club.
All this crap about the silica gell becoming saturated is possibly true, but if the seal was good in the first place all the silica gell would do is absorb any dampness that was there when the sealed unit was originally biult. If it was properly sealed no further damp could get in, so the problem is with the seal not the silica gell becoming saturated and up for replacement.
I have had a set of double glazed Potterton patio doors at the end of my lounge since 1976, still no condensation, that's because they were made properly and the seal is intact.

foxy, April 2011

my velux roof window isn't just fogged there is so much condensation inside it runs down between the panes like rain drops

david, April 2011

Has anyone else used the firm Crystal Clear?

Colin, March 2011

dessicant is only in the spacer bar to eat up the initial water left by cleaning the window prior to making it a sealed unit.

dave, January 2011

We've got Georgian windows in hard wood frames, over a hundred of them. Earlier this year we had a number of them renewed. Whoever had put them in used a sealant and it took two people, one inside one out, almost an hour to get each one out and the area cleaned to accept the new unit. Two were so bad that they had to renew a whole casement window with 6 units. We eventually ended up having 23 replaced.

Now it's turning cold and we are getting sun on the windows we have 6 that are steaming up, all are next to, above or below ones that were replaced.

I feel that until they are all replaced the hammering and banging to get the old ones out are going to blow the others.

My advice would be if you have Georgian windows in wood try taking one sealed unit out, if it's devils own job to remove, replace the whole lot because the banging to get them out will damage the seals on the others

Mickey-L, November 2010

if you drill a hole and dry it out. wow its gone. the reason it has moisture in it is because the goddam seal has broken down. the only long term solution that gives you that new look again , is glass replacement. any other useless info. on here is complete rubbish.! DO NOT DRILL! YOU ARE RISKING INJURY. I SPEND MOST OF MY WEEK REPLACING THIS STUPIDITY!

COTTER, October 2010

just go buy new unit !, its quick and a lot easyer than messing about with drills air pumps and what other silly ideas have been made up on here, if its had condensation inside i will leave a stain on the glass ,new is best and only answer!

window worker, October 2010

vacume lol you would need glass about 12 in thick to take the pressure about 15 to 20 tons on normal window

andy, September 2010

wer do you drill? ive got condensation in one of my patio doors.

kim, June 2010

We've got the same problem - don't think it's worth trying to repair. But would like to buy replacement panes (not the whole window). Can anyone tell me where I can buy these?

Meg, June 2010

is this problem worse with hard wood frames instead of plastic frames

george, May 2010

How about this fo a thought.
1. Remove the sealed unit.
2. Apply a slow setting epoxy resin all around the frame
3. drill a small hole in the top and bottom of the unit
4. Connect a hair dryer on its lowest setting to the top
5. Connect a small vacuum pump to the bottom
6. switch both on and leave until all the water vapour is removed, and still leave running to dry the silica out
7. With the vac puimp still running, apply some epoxy putty to seal the top hole
8. When this has set (5mins) bleed some air into the vac pump, as you MUST NOT pull a high vacuum or the glass will implode - big bang !!
9. Disconnect vac pump, and seal bottom hole.
It may work - it may not !!

Roger S, March 2010

Thank you Kevin Stephens and others for your help re: condensation. This has been a great help to me as i have two windows with the same problem.

Lyn, March 2010

if you want to fix the problem urself just measure the unit and the thickness and buy new ones, you will save urself a lot of money and wasted effort drilling holes

alan, February 2010

If there was a vacuum between the two panes of glass the air pressure around the glass would push the two panes together like what happens when you suck air out of a plastic bottle you are cerateing a vacuum and its the air pressure outside the bottle crushing it ....and we've all done it

wayne, December 2009

The next time i read " vacuum of gas" i will pull my hair out.
Gas is gas a mixture of elements or one element in a gaseous state because the gas contains something i.e argon or ozone or oxygen it must weigh and contain something.
A vacuum contains NOTHING. Nothing at all, is it getting clear now to you, they are mutually exclusive.

Ewan, November 2009

Once condensation has settled between the panes of glass it will stain the glass. There is only one way of doing anything about this problem, that is to replace the old sealed unit with a new one, you do not have to replace the whole window as some companies say.
Let's be sensible nothing lasts forever.

Kevin Stephens, October 2009

self taught DIY dad can you guide me through this process as my windows look filthy from outside due to trapped condensation. my husband is not interested in fixing and wants to get in double glazing firm but i feel its a bit pricey so i would love a go myself to save expense.

Heather, October 2009

This guys can help you, to remove condensation, for the cheapest price, with 20 years warranty
http://americanwindoworks.com/

Jon, Henders, September 2009

Hi, i had my windows fixed by a company who get rid of the condensation. Really quick and so much cheaper than replacing it. I think they were called crystal clear windows, or somthing like that. I would definatly recommend them. Hope this helps

Rachel Clegg, July 2009

The spacer bars separating the two panes of glass contain silica balls which absorb internal water vapour in the sealed unit. Over time these balls become saturated abd eventually the windows will mist internally.

A simple fix is to remove the sealed unit and VERY carefully drill a small hole through the external rubber seals into the end of each separator. Empty out the old silica balls and refill with new ones. Reseal the holes in the external rubber seal and replace the unit.

Dave, July 2009

Vacuum of gas??? Its either a vacuum ie. containing nothing, in which case the window panes would collapse in on themselves, or it has a gas in it. Air is a mixtures of gasses why would you need a special gas?? Sorry MATE but you are talking tripe. The silica gel has reached maximum absorbsion point, it needs replenishing to stop the condensation recurring. Simple Simon

The Face, July 2009

could you please help me Self taught D I Y Dad.
Please help I need to know how to drill this hole in a leaky double glazed patio door.
DIY Mum

DIY Mum, July 2009

For self-taught DIY Dad - my husband Pete wants to do this, can you guide us through the process please? He is a pretty experienced DIY Dad too. There are 16 large windows in our conservatory, it was a gift from a wealthy friend nearly 20 years ago. But now they have condensation and its driving him mad.

Carmel Duffy, July 2009

I have many panels in my conservatory that have signs of condensation. would be interested in your "Drilling" solution so let us know how you do it please

GGD, June 2009

I have 2 units that where the seal has broken. I have fixed both and it cost me NOTHING. It is a simple process that any DIYER can fix with a drill. The only people pushing for a full replacement are the greedy double glazing suppliers who could avoid thisn on ALL windows at the cost of a few pennies. If you are interested , I can guide you through the process.

Self Taught DIY Dad, June 2009

I AM GOING TO TRY USING A HAIRDRYER WILL LET YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME Fingers Crossed

gayle, April 2009

There's no vacuum - but there might be a special gas if you buy the pricey ones (hopefully using air instead won't upset you too much). Air leaks in and silica gel is used to keep the air dry.

If too much damp air leaks in, the silica gel will get sodden (like a sponge). Usually this means the seal that goes round the window has deteriorated (you get cheaper seals on the cheaper windows).

So - if you want to get the window dry, you will also need to dry the silica gel. Make a couple of holes and pump some dry air through for as long as you can. Until the glass is dry and then treble it or more.

Now comes the impossible part. Plug the two holes and make the whole thing airtight (as it wasn't before). Then keep your fingers crossed as the old seal is in the process of creating more leaks.

MartinF, February 2009

ok mate the way it goes is this if your seal has failed then its (im afraid) new units you obviously have gas filled units and if thats so and the seal has faild then you need to replace you units.......... dont believe anthing else you have seen on here i work as a supplier to the trade and if its blown then nothing you can do will fix it sorry mate but you need to buy new glazing for your frames sorry mate thats the truth

j cooper, November 2008

vacuum of gas ???? what the hell is simon on ... no such gas in a unit its just trapped air and its also no good finding the hole/gap to re-seal because the desacant have died and no longer doing its job of stopping the condensation building up (the desacant is in the spacer bar by the way) believe me because i`ve been in the double glazing trade for nearly 30 yrs

kevin richards, October 2008

http://www.ccwwi.com/Default.html

look at this^^^^ ,there is a full video of the process somewhere on the internet but i lost the link

colin, March 2008

I disagree with Simon's answer. I spent several years in the manufacturer of double glazed windows. These units do not have a vacuum of gas between the glass. No gas is pumped into the unit the moisture prevention is taken care of by the moisture absorption properties of the decassent used in the frames.

carlos, October 2007

Nearly everyone will tell you that you need to replace the windows, (especially window salesmen) but you can sometimes fix it yourself. If you can pump dry air in between the panes and then seal any gaps, the condensation will go. You can do this with an aquarium air pump, tubing and silica gel in a sealed container. You may also be able to drill into the seal and put silica gel inside. (It is not the case that double glazing contains a vacuum or special gas).

TT, April 2007

You need to replace the unit because the vacumn of gas has escaped within the window. Sorry no quick fix .

Simon, March 2007