Double glazing

[squirrel2007]

Exciting topic I know!

We just had new double glazing fitted in all but one room (dont ask!)

Thing is that every morning the windows are steamed up on the outside to the point where you cant see out!

The neighbours who also had new windows not long ago dont seem to have the same trouble (We are an end terrace)

Why would the windows steam up on the outside pane? There is no condensation on the inside or between the panes

[sunbeam_alpine]

Does a light go on every time you open your front door?

You may be living in a fridge

[Slagathore]

Some sort of sealing issue?

Maybe the window units are faulty. You see it on older houses/windows, I wouldn't expect it on new ones.

Have you spoke to the people who installed them?

[Simpo Two]

squirrel2007 said:

Thing is that every morning the windows are steamed up on the outside to the point where you cant see out!

It must be that the air outside is relatively warm and humid, and your windows are relatively cold - so the humidity condenses out. As the temperatures reach equilibrium, the condensate will evaporate. Are these windows on the end of the terrace?

[squirrel2007]

Simpo Two said:

squirrel2007 said:

Thing is that every morning the windows are steamed up on the outside to the point where you cant see out!

It must be that the air outside is relatively warm and humid, and your windows are relatively cold - so the humidity condenses out. As the temperatures reach equilibrium, the condensate will evaporate. Are these windows on the end of the terrace?

the windows are end of terrace. I could understand condensation occuring inside but not the other way round. the remaining window we didn't replace doesn't steam up and the condensation is always on the outside!

[Simpo Two]

squirrel2007 said:

the windows are end of terrace. I could understand condensation occuring inside but not the other way round. the remaining window we didn't replace doesn't steam up and the condensation is always on the outside!

Inside/outside - it's only a matter of which side is warmer or cooler. I think your window glass gets cold at night, then warm damp air moves in quickly in the morning and causes the problem. Your old (single glazed) windows didn't do it because they warmed up more quickly - these ones are staying colder for longer because if nothing else they have more thermal mass.

[Mart-1]

does this window face east and get the morning sun?

[Davel]

Don't worry.

We've just had our's replaced and we have exactly the same, as do many other houses (because we were concerned and had a look).

It burns off fairly quickly in the daylight.

[squirrel2007]

Thanks for your suggestions, It didn't occur this morning incidentally. I'll go and find something else to worry about now!!

[RedLCRB0b]

Sorry to steal your topic, but rather than starting another double glazing thread...

We've just (this week) had new windows throughout the house. In general I'm pretty happy with them, however with today being very windy I've had a chance to check them over properly and I've just noticed that some of them don't seem to be particularly draught proof. I can feel a slight breeze coming through the gap between the window and the frame where the seal is. I've never had double glazing before so I don't know if this is normal, but given that it is only happening on some of the windows it doesn't seem right to me. I have the boss of the firm who fitted them coming to the house to check them on Monday, but it would be useful to know the facts before speaking to him.

Cheers
Bob

[RedLCRB0b]

Hmmm. I've just done a highly scientific 'paper' test on all the windows. The ones where the draught is evident, I can easily slide a piece of A4 paper between the window and the frame with almost no resistance. With the windows that don't have draughts I can't slide the paper in at all. Looks like I'm going to have an uncomfortable conversation with the double glazing man on Monday

Bob

[V12Les]

RedLCRB0b said:

Hmmm. I've just done a highly scientific 'paper' test on all the windows. The ones where the draught is evident, I can easily slide a piece of A4 paper between the window and the frame with almost no resistance. With the windows that don't have draughts I can't slide the paper in at all. Looks like I'm going to have an uncomfortable conversation with the double glazing man on Monday

Bob

Sounds like the beads haven't cliped into place properley. Sometimes they can be stters to clip in, look like there in place but are not. Usually a job left to the labourer, if they had one. Easily rectified.

[Davel]

Have you paid them in full yet.

Do a snagging list and ask them back to sort the draughts etc before you release final payment.

Our supplier ended up taking six weeks to complete a supposed six day job.


They scratched the glass whilst installing it, damaged the replacement glass (sharp bit of metal on their rubber lump hammer!) and we found loads of draughts too.

Now finally sorted.

[RedLCRB0b]

We have only paid half, so we do have some leverage. I don't want to be an 'awkward' customer - but at the same time I do want the job done properly. What makes it worse, is that I worked from home while they were fitting the windows and they were all really nice. It feels a bit wrong now to be criticising their work. I've put together a list of everything that I think is wrong and hope that my discussions with the owner of the firm go well on Monday evening. I hope it doesn't take 6 weeks to resolve !

Cheers
Bob

[RedLCRB0b]

V12Les said:

RedLCRB0b said:

Hmmm. I've just done a highly scientific 'paper' test on all the windows. The ones where the draught is evident, I can easily slide a piece of A4 paper between the window and the frame with almost no resistance. With the windows that don't have draughts I can't slide the paper in at all. Looks like I'm going to have an uncomfortable conversation with the double glazing man on Monday

Bob

Sounds like the beads haven't cliped into place properley. Sometimes they can be stters to clip in, look like there in place but are not. Usually a job left to the labourer, if they had one. Easily rectified.

Ours was a day and half job (6 windows). First half day there were 3 of them and they fitted 4 windows. The 2nd day there was only 1 and he fitted the remaining 2 windows which were more difficult. He did have a labourer with him for some of the time. What I'm worried about is that the frames have been warped while being fitted, if this is the case then getting rid of the gaps isn't going to be easy. Out of the 6 windows, 4 have problems with draughts - the 4 fitted on the first day.

I'm just thankful it was so windy today otherwise I probably wouldn't have checked the windows so thoroughly and wouldn't have noticed the problems !

Bob

[RedLCRB0b]

The owner of the firm came round and accepted all the problems without question Someone will be coming back to rectify all the issues, hopefully this week.

Cheers
Bob