How to repair a double pane window

It should be noted that many users refer to the entire window, including the glass, the frame, and the fittings, as a double-glazed window, but this is not quite right. A glass unit is a construction of two or more panes of glass, which are fastened along the contour using sealants and spacer frames. It isn't easy to install it yourself without special tools and equipment, but it is equally important to correctly install the ready-made glass unit in the already standing frame.

Nevertheless, realizing perfectly well that when writing a search query about double-glazed window repair, many people mean the whole PVC window unit and, accordingly, hope to get an answer to all questions, we will slightly expand the topic. In addition, the different assemblies and mechanisms of PVC windows will be considered, so owners will be aware of possible breakdowns that often occur during operation.

Insulating glass unit construction

The structure of a double-glazed window, in the proper sense of the term, somewhat resembles the construction of an aquarium, only "packed" not with three but with all four sides. The double-glazed window can consist of one, two, or even three chambers, as it is designed for installation in different regions with individual climatic features.

Chambers are called compartments between the panes, and glass can be two, three, or four.

Glasses have a certain distance between them, determined by the distance bar of metal or metal, which is glued to both sides with a sealant.

This spacer strip comes in different widths - the wider it is, the greater the air space between the panes. This element is perforated with tiny holes necessary to prevent moisture from collecting inside the cells and to prevent the glasses from misting over. The rail can be easily seen on already installed windows.

The spacer bar is filled with a desiccant that prevents the glass from fogging up from inside the chambers because it absorbs moisture well. Finally, the end part of the glass pane is filled with sealant - this layer is ten ÷ 15 mm.

The professionally made glass unit is filled with inert gas, such as krypton or argon, or dried air in a specific vacuum. The gas filling has a higher density than air, so such windows have higher thermal and sound insulation characteristics.

To manufacture insulating glass, units use a glass of different thickness - it is necessarily specified in the labeling of the product.

So, for example, the designation 4-10-4-10-4 specifies that it is a double-glazed window with 4 mm thick glasses and a 10 mm distance between them. A more complicated formula, for example, 6-10-4-16Ar-4i, says that it is a unique double-glazed window with a complete exterior glass unit of 6 mm, the first air chamber of 10 mm, the middle glass unit of 4 mm, the gas-filled room (argon) of 16 mm, and the glass unit with an energy-saving effect, type "I," of 4 mm.

This question often arises in cases where one of the panes of an installed window unit has been broken. If you approach the assembly process with special care and accuracy and have the suitable size material and tools for work, then the glazing unit can be assembled yourself. However, it is not easy to call this activity simple.

It would help if you had the following tools and devices on hand for the work:

- spacer bars and pads;

- a rubber or plastic hammer;

- a wide chisel;

- shoemaker knife;

- a unique plastic spatula;

- suction cup for glass;

- glass cutter;

- a wooden ruler of 1.0 ÷ 1.5 meters.

Before making a new insulating glass unit, you must dismantle the old one with the broken glass.

The glass pane is fixed in the middle of the frame with glazing beads; to pull it out, you need to remove them. It is not difficult to do this:

• This process requires a broad and sharp chisel. It is placed in the center of the vertical side of the glass pane, in the gap between the glazing bead and the frame, and gently hits with a plastic or rubber hammer.

• When the glazing bead starts to move away from the frame by five ÷ 7 mm, it can be detached by hand.

• Then comes the removal of the upper horizontal glazing bead - you can start whipping it from the corner.

• Then the second vertical and then the lower horizontal glazing bead is removed.

• To pull out the glass pane from the frame, it is necessary to wear thick gloves on your hands, as they can have sharp edges, and there is a high probability of serious injury. If one of the panes is broken, a suction cup can be used to remove the glass pane by placing it in the middle of the whole pane.

• The suction cup is placed on the glass, fixed, and then you need to gently pull the glass unit toward you by its handle and pull it out of the frame.

You will need the following materials to make a double-glazed window:

- a glass of the required thickness (not less than 4 mm);

- spacer or spacer frame;

- primary sealant (butyl) and secondary sealant (polysulfide. polyurethane);

- loose desiccant.

The work of making consists of several stages. The first of these, of course, is the preparation of the venue:

• For the convenience of the process, a reliable, large enough table, with a perfectly flat surface, covered with dense, soft material, such as felt.
• Next, the glass is measured. The measurement is taken from the old glass pane, or if this is not possible, the inner edges of the frame are measured vertically and horizontally, minus one ÷ 2 mm to each side.
• The cut on the glass must be perfect, so you need to buy a good glass cutter that can easily do the job.
• If the glass is large enough, it is best to use a quick roller cutter to adjust it to the correct size.
• Having prepared everything you need, the glass is placed on the table, the measurements are transferred, and the stabbing cutter is installed. Its roller version is convenient because it allows you to make a perfectly even cut, as the stop will not let the cutting element slip.
• It is recommended to carefully process the edges of the cut glass with a bar with an abrasive surface ("diamond dust"), which will help protect your hands from damage.
• When the required glass has been cut and adequately handled, it should be rinsed well or treated with a glass cleaner. You should work especially carefully on the inner surfaces of the glass, as you will not be able to clean them later.
• The next step is to prepare the spacers. You can try to use spacers from an old insulating glass unit by cutting them off from the glass together with the sealant, but it will be necessary to free them entirely from the applied mass. If this cannot be done because one of the sides is damaged, removing the dimensions is realistic, and making a new frame from the perforated laths is not tricky.

The frame should be 4-7 mm smaller than the glass. That is, the glass should extend beyond the edge of the frame. This distance will later be sealed with a secondary sealant:

• The inner cavities of the perforated spacer frames are three-quarters filled with desiccant, usually granulated silica gel.
• To prevent the material from spilling out on the other side, a particular angle is immediately installed in the lath cavity, which will become a connecting element and help to bring the vertical and horizontal lath to a perfect right angle.
• After installing the two separate laths, you should get a 90-degree angle.
• On the ends of the frame, glued butyl tape with a protective film, which will be removed before fixing the glass on it.
• On the glass is laid prepared an immaculate table in which you need to glue the finished frame evenly. Here you can resort to a bit of trickery - on the glass with the help of a ruler to make marks overlay the rack on its outer side - then these marks will be easy to erase.
• Before laying the frame on the glass with adhesive tape from the bottom, remove the protective film. The frame is placed strictly on the marks and pressed slightly to get a fixation.
• It is recommended to make the same markings on the glass, which will be glued to the top of the frame, as unequal glass location relative to the structure is unacceptable. The mirrors' edges must protrude identically beyond the borders of the frame.
• The upper protective layer is removed from the sealing tape, and the second glass is placed on the frame precisely according to the markings.
• If you want to make a double-chambered package, the gluing process is repeated.
• When all the panes of glass are assembled into a glass unit, it is necessary to carefully crimp the glass to form a secure bond with the butyl tape - this will be the primary sealing contour.
• The next step is to fill the remaining cavity between the panes around the glass unit's perimeter with polyurethane, tical, or polysulfide - thus forming a second sealing contour.

This process is done with a trowel or construction syringe. The sealant should fill the cavity without any small air cavities or cracks.

This contour usually takes 8-14 hours to dry, and it should resemble rubber after curing. Next, the undercuts are cleaned up, and the quality of the curing and filling is checked.

Why may you need a competent window repair? What is causing the unpleasant moisture there? What features are essential for you to consider when doing this? How to repair a window pane if there is moisture in it? In this article, we have collected valuable and professional tips for those who are essential not only to understand the cause of the malfunction but also to know how to fix it.

WHAT IS A GLAZING UNIT? WHAT SHOULD IT BE

A glazing unit is a construction that consists of several sheets of glass bonded together; inside the glazing unit is usually either inert gas or dry air. Therefore, it is imperative to guarantee complete tightness and protection against moisture and air penetration. There are serious problems as soon as a hole appears in the joints, cracks, or glass of the insulating glass unit (however small, invisible to the human eye!).

WHAT PROBLEMS ARISE WHEN THE INSULATING GLASS OF A PLASTIC WINDOW IS BROKEN?

• Moisture that seems to emerge from within.
• Layers of ice and "icing crust."
• I was fogging the insulating glass unit from the inside.
• Noise and sound insulation are disturbed.
• Cold air is coming in.
• Whistling and noise that seems to come from the plastic window.

If your plastic window has begun to show these signs, it is worth inviting a specialist. You may need not just a repair but a complete replacement of the insulating glass unit.

WHY IS THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSULATING GLASS OF THE PLASTIC WINDOW BROKEN

Why does this problem appear? What are the reasons that contribute to it? The main reasons experts call:

• External influences cause mechanical damage.
• Defects made at the production site.
• Incorrect installation, errors, and mistakes during installation.
• Maintenance was performed incorrectly, and severe problems with it appeared.

IMPORTANT! The sooner you decide to repair the glass unit, the better. Otherwise, over time, the technical and aesthetic characteristics will only deteriorate. Thermal insulation will become almost invisible, and you will notice extraneous sounds and loud noises from the street. In the cold season, the glass pane will be covered with even more significant drops of moisture.

HOW TO REPAIR THE INSULATING GLASS UNIT IF THERE IS MOISTURE IN IT

If you notice moisture, the glazing unit will have to be replaced. This is the only effective way to deal with the problem. And this means that you will have to:

1. Call a fitter or take all the necessary measurements yourself.
2. Order the production of insulating glass units from a reliable company.
3. Wait for its delivery to your site.
4. Remove the old insulating glass unit from the window frame.
5. Insert the new insulating glass unit.
6. Once again, check that the glass pane is securely installed and that your chosen solutions are functioning correctly.

If you feel you are unlikely to be able to cope with all the work yourself, contact the professionals. Remember: if a factory defect causes the problems with the glazing unit, they must be repaired free of charge (the same applies to poor quality installation)!

HOW TO CONDUCT A TEMPORARY REPAIR OF THE INSULATING GLASS UNIT

Often the cause of depressurization is external damage—for example, a crack, a chip, a hole, or others. Therefore, it would be best if you did something to prevent the "hole" from increasing. Experts recommend using a transparent sealant in such a case. The substance will fix the damage for a few days and save the glazing unit from further destruction.

The appearance of moisture inside your plastic window's glass pane signals that there are problems. Take care to fix them!