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Fogging
of insulated windows.
By: Patrick
Mahoney Owner/Operator of SHERLOCK
HOME INSPECTOR
Q
Our home inspector reported that three windows in our 9 year old
house had fogging insulated panes, and he suggested that we contact the
builder or manufacturer for warranty information.
We contacted the manufacturer who sent a man out, but he said that
only two of the windows were fogged.
When we called the inspector, he said that insulated windows will
fog only under certain conditions, and that we look at the windows at the
same time of day that they were inspected.
Is our inspector a bit foggy in the head?
A It has been my
experience that insulated window panes, when the seal is broken, will fog
only under certain conditions. The
two pieces of glass in a double-pane window have an inert gas between them
which is held in place by a seal. This
thin space of gas is what allows the windows to slow down the transmission
of heat or cold. When this
seal is compromised, ordinary air is allowed to enter, and moisture may
condense on the inside surfaces of the glass.
These types of windows are most likely to fog on a winter morning a
short time after the sun hits them. The
outside of the window has been cold overnight, and the inside has been
warm. When the sun hits the
cold outer glass, moisture condenses and the foggy appearance occurs.
A few hours later, as the temperatures
stabilize, the fog may disappear altogether.
In this case, the inspector was correct to suggest that the windows
be inspected under the same conditions.
In the case of your 9 year old house, your windows may still be
under warranty. The earlier
versions of insulated windows were somewhat prone to failure, but
technology has steadily improved, and today’s windows are much more
reliable. Warranties have gotten much better as well, so it you have
foggy windows, check with the manufacturer to see if you can have them
replaced under warranty.
www.SherlockHomeInspector.com
Article: Fogging of insulated windows. by Patrick Mahoney Ó 2004 |
