Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations

stickguy

I just started watching him and I don’t even have a Toyota. Excellent video yesterday about Toyota hybrids (and hybrids in general).

explorerx4

@driver100,
Do you know what brand of windows you have?
Harvey Windows have a lifetime guarantee.
I had some foggy windows in my last house and just bought new sashes.

jipster

@stickguy said:
I just started watching him and I don’t even have a Toyota. Excellent video yesterday about Toyota hybrids (and hybrids in general).

No Toyota here either. He only works on Toyota products. But, he gives great and detailed car reviews on all other manufacturers.

nyccarguy

stickguy said:

$300 was a long time ago.

I have had a number of windows fixed. Had to do a few at the house we sold in 2022 (had been foggy for years and I ignored it but would not fly for selling). Was actually very easy assuming the pane pops out (so movable not fixed).

Sometimes they can do in 1 day but plan on 2. Simple process. Take the sash out and bring it into the shop. They take out the old glass from the frame, make a new piece to match, pop it in and put the molding/clips back on to hold it in then you just go pick it up and put it back in the window. No change to the sash frame part so no issues fitting.

I think it was in the $50-$100 range per pane depending on size but fuzzy on that. I know it was way less than replacements.

The shop would come and take out and deliver and install. For a couple hundred $ extra. Still went back to the shop.

$300 was a long time ago - a long time ago. Before cars had backup cameras.

graphicguy

jipster said:

@stickguy said:

They shouldn't raise the price since they already had it priced like it was perfect, given the miles.

my theory on used cars at a dealer (and dealership prices) is they are expected to need absolutely nothing and be fully reconditioned like that.

Mrs. Jip is now the owner of a 2021 Honda Passport EX-L. Just got the deal done. And you were correct. There were no additional charges added for the maintenance done. When I saw that I knew we'd be able to make a deal. They came down $200 from the price we had looked at last week. $24,400. Not the greatest deal by the ole Jipster, but not bad.

The guy in finance tried to get us to buy various combined packages of: service contract, maintenance contract, interior fabric protection, road hazard protection, paint protection... a couple other protections I can't remember. Each package would add so much to our monthly payment. Had him delete all but the service contract. Considered it briefly. $3,000 for 5 years 48k miles. Offered thru AUL. Anyone hear of this company? Decided against it.

So, not sure what we're going to do about our 2011 Hyundai Veracruz. Probably just hold onto it for awhile, as a backup, and see what happens. Thx everyone for the feedback.

'Grats! Love me some Honda vehicles.

ab348

corvette said:

Car Wizard can be overly dry, although I do like the Car Ninja (whom he uses for BMWs).

Yes, I agree with that. Of course the other guy hates BMWs.

ab348

jipster said:

@corvette said:

Car Wizard can be overly dry, although I do like the Car Ninja (whom he uses for BMWs).

May have been mentioned here before, but "The Car Care Nut" is heads and shoulders above any other car enthusiast video channel I've seen. Repairs and car reviews, done by master mechanic Amd, are of the highest standards.

I don’t watch because I can’t stand his verbal delivery.

ab348

stickguy said:

At least the giant bags the dirt comes in will be handy for collecting leaves and lighter yard debris. Like a giant pop up pail. Should fit nicely in the back of the truck to take to the transfer station.

Side note, I love having that m my new town. Any yard stuff I can drag over and dump for free. Does not even have to be bagged.

Surprised they haven’t flagged you after you took all the junk you hauled out of the woods there for disposal. Up here if I tried that without having it all cleaned, pressed, and sorted by material type they would have handed out a citation and made me take it back.

ab348

driver100 said:

This may have been covered or we may be in new territory. We have lots of windows in this house, and a lot of them are getting foggy....the house is 18 years old.
I expect window will cost about $300 each to replace......there could be 20 or 30 windows...might do it in 2 steps.
There are companies that say they can fix foggy windows. My wife is liking that idea.
It seems to me, it will be a deal that will last for about 3 to 5 years, and then you will have to replace the windows anyway.
Any ideas?

I have had recent experience with this since I had 8 done last year. Four of those were replacement thermal windows installed in the ‘80s, which were replaced with Energy Star jobs because of Canadian winters, the other 4 were basement windows, the original small single-glazed wood windows with aluminum storms that were probably from the ‘70s, which also got Energy Star replacements. The total bill for all 8 was around $8,000 in worthless Canadian dollars. That included new wooden trim inside, new flashing outside, and spray foam during the install.

Years ago, I found a local outfit that did what it sounds like Mrs Driver is talking about. I had a couple of those ‘80s thermopanes fogging up. The guy came and measured the glass unit and a few weeks later came back with a replacement for the sealed glass part, popped off the stops holding the old one in place and put in the new. It was a couple of hundred dollars, would have been twice that if he had to do both sides of the side by side casement.

stickguy

@ab348 said:
Surprised they haven’t flagged you after you took all the junk you hauled out of the woods there for disposal. Up here if I tried that without having it all cleaned, pressed, and sorted by material type they would have handed out a citation and made me take it back.

I follow the rules. The tires I had to pay $3 each to get rid of. Car battery went to auto zone (got $10 for that). Anything scrap metal just went into the big scrap metal dumpster. 2x a year (going on this weekend actually) they do spring cleanup event and take a lot more stuff (some free, some not).

Only thing I got flagged for was a bunch of cardboard that got wet somehow. Wouldn’t let me put that in the recycle dumpster. Told
Me to just throw it I. The trash dumpster instead.

jipster

@graphicguy said:
'Grats! Love me some Honda vehicles.

Thanks! I thought about ole isellhondas after I just bought my second Honda.
He'd be saying, "I told ya so", about now. lol

jmonroe1

driver100 said:

This may have been covered or we may be in new territory. We have lots of windows in this house, and a lot of them are getting foggy....the house is 18 years old.
I expect window will cost about $300 each to replace......there could be 20 or 30 windows...might do it in 2 steps.
There are companies that say they can fix foggy windows. My wife is liking that idea.
It seems to me, it will be a deal that will last for about 3 to 5 years, and then you will have to replace the windows anyway.
Any ideas?

————————————————
If your sashes and window frames themselves are in good condition and they probably are, do what @stickguy said. Have the glass panes replaced. You’ll save a ton of money and get the results you want.

You’re probably not going to install the sashes once the new panes are replaced so that will cost you extra for the pickup, delivery and installation but you’ll still save a lot of money.

jmonroe

pensfan83

When we had our windows replaced we budgeted around $1K/window installed and the bid we accepted was just a little above that.

I personally wouldn't replace just the glass panes if were me. Replacing the inserts also nets you new hardware, trim, and insulation from the elements.

roadburner

driver100 said:

This may have been covered or we may be in new territory. We have lots of windows in this house, and a lot of them are getting foggy....the house is 18 years old.
I expect window will cost about $300 each to replace......there could be 20 or 30 windows...might do it in 2 steps.
There are companies that say they can fix foggy windows. My wife is liking that idea.
It seems to me, it will be a deal that will last for about 3 to 5 years, and then you will have to replace the windows anyway.
Any ideas?

We lucked out; around 2002 we used a window company that offered either a non-transferrable lifetime warranty or a transferrable 25 year warranty. We chose the former, and we get a window or two replaced every few years. The company has never given us any hassle about it. However, the company no longer offers that warranty.

kyfdx

We had good luck with replacing three transom windows, in the same way @ab348 did. I don't think I'd do that with double-hung windows, but that part worked well for us.

driver100

corvette said:

@driver100 - it's been years since I looked at it, but the foggy window repair process used to be that they would drill a small hole in the inside, spray the inside with a solution to clean the fog/residue, and plug the hole. You would not have the benefit of any argon fill nor the insulation of having double panes, in general, but if they're fogged, it means a seal has broken, and you've already lost those benefits anyway.

I'd plan more than $300 per window to replace with a good quality vinyl window. The "good" window company in my area had a minimum of $7 or $800 per window, and that was several years ago.

@corvette Thanks for the info, it sounds like excellent advice.

driver100

stickguy said:

$300 was a long time ago.

I have had a number of windows fixed. Had to do a few at the house we sold in 2022 (had been foggy for years and I ignored it but would not fly for selling). Was actually very easy assuming the pane pops out (so movable not fixed).

Sometimes they can do in 1 day but plan on 2. Simple process. Take the sash out and bring it into the shop. They take out the old glass from the frame, make a new piece to match, pop it in and put the molding/clips back on to hold it in then you just go pick it up and put it back in the window. No change to the sash frame part so no issues fitting.

I think it was in the $50-$100 range per pane depending on size but fuzzy on that. I know it was way less than replacements.

The shop would come and take out and deliver and install. For a couple hundred $ extra. Still went back to the shop.

Each window is about 30X30 inches, and anywhere from about 20 to 30 or 40 have to be done. What do they do with the empty space when they take the windows to the shop overnight? I am also concerned about this the repairing plan....how long will that last?

roadburner

Some of the channels I subscribe to on YT are: Autogefühl, Car magazine, F1, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One, Missed Apex F1, The StraightPipes, and Throttle house. The Throttle House Review of the S4, M340i, and W205 C43 confirmed my evaluation of the M340i and C43 (no offense, but the S4 never interested me) and led to a C43 residing in my garage.

stickguy

Don’t do it in the winter. We have screens so just like leaving the window open.

It’s brand new glass. Exactly the same as buying a new window so will last at least that long. But much less invasive. No need to rip open the house and worry about the install. Sealing up from water, etc. putting in new trim. Retrofitting windows is major house surgery. If your frames are fine I would definitely do the glass.

If you don’t want to pull them out and take them to the shop have them out to measure. Then they will make the new glass pieces and come back to put them in. Won’t take them long. Just a little more expensive but lots less effort for uou

roadburner

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

$300 was a long time ago.

I have had a number of windows fixed. Had to do a few at the house we sold in 2022 (had been foggy for years and I ignored it but would not fly for selling). Was actually very easy assuming the pane pops out (so movable not fixed).

Sometimes they can do in 1 day but plan on 2. Simple process. Take the sash out and bring it into the shop. They take out the old glass from the frame, make a new piece to match, pop it in and put the molding/clips back on to hold it in then you just go pick it up and put it back in the window. No change to the sash frame part so no issues fitting.

I think it was in the $50-$100 range per pane depending on size but fuzzy on that. I know it was way less than replacements.

The shop would come and take out and deliver and install. For a couple hundred $ extra. Still went back to the shop.

Each window is about 30X30 inches, and anywhere from about 20 to 30 or 40 have to be done. What do they do with the empty space when they take the windows to the shop overnight? I am also concerned about this the repairing plan....how long will that last?

It wasn't inexpensive but the company I used replaced all 19 windows in one day. In fact, they arrived as I left for work and when I returned that afternoon they had finished and left.

pensfan83

When it comes to windows you generally either replace the inserts in which new windows are installed within the existing window frames or you do a full frame window replacement which includes ripping everything out to the studs and rebuilding new frames. Obviously the latter is the more expensive and extensive approach. The former is what most homeowners do when they get bids for window replacements.

If you're going to just replace the window panes, that makes no sense to me because then you're putting brand new glass within old sashes and hardware.

jmonroe1

pensfan83 said:

When it comes to windows you generally either replace the inserts in which new windows are installed within the existing window frames or you do a full frame window replacement which includes ripping everything out to the studs and rebuilding new frames. Obviously the latter is the more expensive and extensive approach. The former is what most homeowners do when they get bids for window replacements.

If you're going to just replace the window panes, that makes no sense to me because then you're putting brand new glass within old sashes and hardware.

————————————————
Like I said before only replace the glass if the sash and frames are in good shape, otherwise replace the entire window.

As for hardware, I have yet to wear out hardware nor do I know anyone who has.

FWIW, I would have replaced just the glass when we did windows about 5 years ago. They were Anderson windows in a wood frame (the house was built in 1975). However, I saw some early signs of rot, so I bit the bullet and did the whole house with heavy gauge vinyl frames and triple pane glass. I can’t remember now but it averaged out at around $500/$550 per window. No more painting for me.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

I have to admit, their stuff is well regarded.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

At least the giant bags the dirt comes in will be handy for collecting leaves and lighter yard debris. Like a giant pop up pail. Should fit nicely in the back of the truck to take to the transfer station.

Side note, I love having that m my new town. Any yard stuff I can drag over and dump for free. Does not even have to be bagged.

Surprised they haven’t flagged you after you took all the junk you hauled out of the woods there for disposal. Up here if I tried that without having it all cleaned, pressed, and sorted by material type they would have handed out a citation and made me take it back.

Most of my yard debris just get dragged out to the back field and are burned.

ab348

jmonroe1 said:

As for hardware, I have yet to wear out hardware nor do I know anyone who has.

Well, you do now.

Maybe 10 years back, the "operator" which is the Rube Goldberg mechanism that opens the movable part of the casement when you turn the crank, failed. It seemed to only go so far before the gear would no longer mesh with the part it was supposed to. I figured it would be impossible to fix. Much to my surprise, I went to a specialty shop and they had the exact part on the shelf. It was surprisingly easy to swap out the entire mechanism. Just some careful fitment and a few screws into the frame.

jmonroe1

ab348 said:

jmonroe1 said:

As for hardware, I have yet to wear out hardware nor do I know anyone who has.

Well, you do now.

Maybe 10 years back, the "operator" which is the Rube Goldberg mechanism that opens the movable part of the casement when you turn the crank, failed. It seemed to only go so far before the gear would no longer mesh with the part it was supposed to. I figured it would be impossible to fix. Much to my surprise, I went to a specialty shop and they had the exact part on the shelf. It was surprisingly easy to swap out the entire mechanism. Just some careful fitment and a few screws into the frame.

————————————————
I was talking about latching hardware. However, any of the parts that moves a window is technically “hardware”. But it seems like you were willing to buy the faulty hardware and replace it. So you saved yourself the cost of replacing the entire window which is what most folks would do.

Now that I’m thinking about it, if you were to replace all of the parts that help to move your window, like springs and the ribbon bands attached to them, you’ll still come out way ahead compared to replacing the entire window.

I’m thinking when you get quotes from window companies they point out all the things that can go wrong with refurbishing your existing windows. Kinda like dealing with the F&I dept. at car dealerships. If I sold windows I wouldn’t tell folks how to refurbish their existing windows either. Like the man said, “buyer beware “.

jmonroe

corvette

I completely forgot until others mentioned it, but my house has house-brand vinyl windows from Lowe's (installed by the previous owners). I found out the actual manufacturer from the labels that were still stuck to the sides of the sashes, gave them the info from the label, and they would send me an entire new sash to drop into the frame. They were about $200 each. At some point, the manufacturer was no longer able to do this because they no longer manufactured that model of window, so I had @roadburner's preferred window company come out, thinking I would have to replace the entire windows instead of just glass.

The guy told me I didn't need new windows, referred me to a local glass company that replaces the pane within the vinyl sash, and also gave me a bid on replacing a worn out garage window and my worn out basement windows--I ended up having them do all of that other work.

The pane replacement company comes out, measures the pane, then manufactures the pane and comes out a second time to install it (which takes 30 minutes to an hour). I think they also charge around $200. I try to wait until I have at least two windows with noticeably failing seals before I go to the trouble of having them come out. Knock on wood, I don't think I've replaced any for a while, which is probably why it slipped my memory.

stickguy

just what I did. Other than cutting out the labor charge by taking it to the shop myself. The new pane itself was only about 1/3 the cost if you had them come out, measure, then come back to R&R. And I am cheap. Plus it was really easy to take them out.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
Do you know what brand of windows you have?
Harvey Windows have a lifetime guarantee.
I had some foggy windows in my last house and just bought new sashes.

The windows are 18 years old and are made and were put in by a local company that is quite good....Pollard Windows. The largest companies are Windows by Andersen and Pella. Havey is available, but I don't hear much about them. It seems that repairing costs 1/4 to 1/3rd as much, and from what I am reading....they aren't as good as replacement but they are pretty good.

driver100

nyccarguy said:

stickguy said:

$300 was a long time ago.

I have had a number of windows fixed. Had to do a few at the house we sold in 2022 (had been foggy for years and I ignored it but would not fly for selling). Was actually very easy assuming the pane pops out (so movable not fixed).

Sometimes they can do in 1 day but plan on 2. Simple process. Take the sash out and bring it into the shop. They take out the old glass from the frame, make a new piece to match, pop it in and put the molding/clips back on to hold it in then you just go pick it up and put it back in the window. No change to the sash frame part so no issues fitting.

I think it was in the $50-$100 range per pane depending on size but fuzzy on that. I know it was way less than replacements.

The shop would come and take out and deliver and install. For a couple hundred $ extra. Still went back to the shop.

$300 was a long time ago - a long time ago. Before cars had backup cameras.

Yes, it is probably double $300, and could be more depending on materials.

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

This may have been covered or we may be in new territory. We have lots of windows in this house, and a lot of them are getting foggy....the house is 18 years old.
I expect window will cost about $300 each to replace......there could be 20 or 30 windows...might do it in 2 steps.
There are companies that say they can fix foggy windows. My wife is liking that idea.
It seems to me, it will be a deal that will last for about 3 to 5 years, and then you will have to replace the windows anyway.
Any ideas?

I have had recent experience with this since I had 8 done last year. Four of those were replacement thermal windows installed in the ‘80s, which were replaced with Energy Star jobs because of Canadian winters, the other 4 were basement windows, the original small single-glazed wood windows with aluminum storms that were probably from the ‘70s, which also got Energy Star replacements. The total bill for all 8 was around $8,000 in worthless Canadian dollars. That included new wooden trim inside, new flashing outside, and spray foam during the install.

Years ago, I found a local outfit that did what it sounds like Mrs Driver is talking about. I had a couple of those ‘80s thermopanes fogging up. The guy came and measured the glass unit and a few weeks later came back with a replacement for the sealed glass part, popped off the stops holding the old one in place and put in the new. It was a couple of hundred dollars, would have been twice that if he had to do both sides of the side by side casement.

Yes, they make a hole in two corners, take out the moisture, put in new dry air, and they claim it can last as long as replacement windows.....20 years. The cost is about 1/4 or 1/3rd of replacement windows.
A big part of the savings seems to be not making new frames, and reusing the glass.
It is definitely the way to go if selling the house in a year, no one asks when you last replaced windows.
i am considering it...some repair companies have 4 and 5 stars.

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

This may have been covered or we may be in new territory. We have lots of windows in this house, and a lot of them are getting foggy....the house is 18 years old.
I expect window will cost about $300 each to replace......there could be 20 or 30 windows...might do it in 2 steps.
There are companies that say they can fix foggy windows. My wife is liking that idea.
It seems to me, it will be a deal that will last for about 3 to 5 years, and then you will have to replace the windows anyway.
Any ideas?

————————————————
If your sashes and window frames themselves are in good condition and they probably are, do what @stickguy said. Have the glass panes replaced. You’ll save a ton of money and get the results you want.

You’re probably not going to install the sashes once the new panes are replaced so that will cost you extra for the pickup, delivery and installation but you’ll still save a lot of money.

jmonroe

The frames are only 18 years old and they seem to be in perfect condition. Replacing the panes should do it. But the guys who repair panes is an option....that costs a lot less. And many people seem very satisfied doing that. I am still trying to do some research.

jmonroe1

corvette said:

I completely forgot until others mentioned it, but my house has house-brand vinyl windows from Lowe's (installed by the previous owners). I found out the actual manufacturer from the labels that were still stuck to the sides of the sashes, gave them the info from the label, and they would send me an entire new sash to drop into the frame. They were about $200 each. At some point, the manufacturer was no longer able to do this because they no longer manufactured that model of window, so I had @roadburner's preferred window company come out, thinking I would have to replace the entire windows instead of just glass.

The guy told me I didn't need new windows, referred me to a local glass company that replaces the pane within the vinyl sash, and also gave me a bid on replacing a worn out garage window and my worn out basement windows--I ended up having them do all of that other work.

The pane replacement company comes out, measures the pane, then manufactures the pane and comes out a second time to install it (which takes 30 minutes to an hour). I think they also charge around $200. I try to wait until I have at least two windows with noticeably failing seals before I go to the trouble of having them come out. Knock on wood, I don't think I've replaced any for a while, which is probably why it slipped my memory.

————————————————
Well, if your luck is like mine, once you start bragging about something, pretty quickly thereafter your luck will run out. Just sayin.

jmonroe

driver100

Thanks to everyone who offered information about windows....it all helps!

A friend in Florida lives in a big nice home.....he needed his windows replaced. The big scam these days is they give you a price - they gave him a price of $25000, but they would take $5000 off if you buy them that day while the salesman is there. He said no, he wanted to get other offers.....so the next guy said he'd replace the windows for $15000...he used him and was satisfied.

driver100

We called the maker of our original windows, and they sent a salesman, but he replaces the total window and casements etc. He knew nothing about individual panes.
We called their customer service and they charge $250 for a salesman to come out....they will deduct that if you buy their windows.
That bothers me....I have to pay to be sold windows, and maybe I want to get a few quotes to choose from.

corvette

Giving estimates/bids for free is the norm in the US... they stand to profit a lot if you accept.

ab348

driver100 said:

Yes, they make a hole in two corners, take out the moisture, put in new dry air, and they claim it can last as long as replacement windows.....20 years. The cost is about 1/4 or 1/3rd of replacement windows.
A big part of the savings seems to be not making new frames, and reusing the glass.
It is definitely the way to go if selling the house in a year, no one asks when you last replaced windows.
i am considering it...some repair companies have 4 and 5 stars.

We are talking two different things here. The outfit I used supplied a new custom-sized argon-filled sealed window unit to replace the failed one. The only difference I could see (aside from it not being fogged up) was that the frame the glass was installed within was a vinyl or plastic material, not aluminum like the old ones. That is now the standard since in our winter climate here the aluminum ones get very cold and let that move to the interior pane of glass, which would not be a concern in Florida of course. I have seen ads for doing the defogging you talked about but I would be concerned that they never found the reason why that unit fogged up in the first place and that the problem might return.

nyccarguy

driver100 said:

Thanks to everyone who offered information about windows....it all helps!

A friend in Florida lives in a big nice home.....he needed his windows replaced. The big scam these days is they give you a price - they gave him a price of $25000, but they would take $5000 off if you buy them that day while the salesman is there. He said no, he wanted to get other offers.....so the next guy said he'd replace the windows for $15000...he used him and was satisfied.

That's a scam. Let me guess, the guy "just happened to be in the neighborhood?" I had one of those bozos come in when I first bought my house back in 2010. He gave me the "Here's today's price (the cheapest), Here's tomorrow's price (50% higher), and here's the price if you call back 1 week from now (more than double)" The guy was very smooth and pushy.

stickguy

I never heard of replacing the gas. And would not try it. But my repair also reused all the frame. Just popped in brand new custom made double panes glass insert.

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Yes, they make a hole in two corners, take out the moisture, put in new dry air, and they claim it can last as long as replacement windows.....20 years. The cost is about 1/4 or 1/3rd of replacement windows.
A big part of the savings seems to be not making new frames, and reusing the glass.
It is definitely the way to go if selling the house in a year, no one asks when you last replaced windows.
i am considering it...some repair companies have 4 and 5 stars.

We are talking two different things here. The outfit I used supplied a new custom-sized argon-filled sealed window unit to replace the failed one. The only difference I could see (aside from it not being fogged up) was that the frame the glass was installed within was a vinyl or plastic material, not aluminum like the old ones. That is now the standard since in our winter climate here the aluminum ones get very cold and let that move to the interior pane of glass, which would not be a concern in Florida of course. I have seen ads for doing the defogging you talked about but I would be concerned that they never found the reason why that unit fogged up in the first place and that the problem might return.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is about the repair process I am talking about...that costs 1/4 to 1/3rd the price of replacing the glass:

Moisture in windows, condensation in windows, or foggy windows, is a result of broken window seals and exceeding the saturation point of the absorbent material placed inside the thermal window by the manufacturer. Over time, moisture from inside the home slowly enters and builds up between the window panes of house windows to the point where condensation appears inside the window. This problem will only worsen over time with more moisture entering the home window creating poorer visibility, eventually damaging the house windows beyond repair, including the window sills.

While we can do most general home window repairs, we even do more!

Home window repair can fix foggy windows, remove condensation in windows, and do window moisture removal, from most thermal windows for a fraction of the cost of a new window replacement. Depending on the window size, two or more small inconspicuous holes are drilled through the outside pane of the foggy window to allow the window moisture removal and then replaced with dry air from outside. The inside of the window between the two window panes is first washed with a solution to remove any unsightly deposits and stains and then rinsed with a solution to assist in the drying process. A spacer bar desiccant sealer is injected to cover the bottom spacer bar as a window seal repair. This area is usually where most of the moisture enters from failed window seals.

A vent is then plugged into the holes to allow the home windows to continue to dry, regaining their original R-Value.

stickguy

Most windows now are filled with a gas like argon. If I’m reading this process correctly they drill a hole, let the fill gas escape, and just let plain are fill the space between the panes?

stickguy

Also, the seal failed someplace to let the moisture in. How does this process prevent that from happening again?

kyfdx

I don't think they just replace glass in windows that have gone bad. How would that fix anything? The glass has to at least be a sealed unit, that's installed in an old frame.

ab348

stickguy said:

Also, the seal failed someplace to let the moisture in. How does this process prevent that from happening again?

Exactly. They seem to be trying to convince the pigeon customer that the leaks always occur on the bottom section of the frame and their process will fix that. I would be very dubious and would expect whatever actually caused the problem to return in short order. Just replace the sealed panes with new ones for a little more money. Don't be "penny-wise, pound-foolish" as the old saying goes. I would only do this air exchange business if you are planning to flip the house immediately.

driver100

stickguy said:

Also, the seal failed someplace to let the moisture in. How does this process prevent that from happening again?

The argon gas in the window collects moisture. The window expands and contracts depending on the temperature, moisture gets in and finally more moisture stays in the glass than what escapes. The repair process, and lots of people give these companies 5 stars, removes the old argon gas they replace it with new argon gas, and they repair the seals.
Repairing windows seems to work......however see the next post>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

driver100

My lucky day! The company that installed the windows 18 years ago said the windows are covered by their warranty, so they will replace all 30 windows, including tax and labor for $3100!
I think they have a 20 year warranty, it is a good thing they went after 18 years and not 21 years

stickguy

I didn’t see new gas being mentioned.

stickguy

@kyfdx said:
I don't think they just replace glass in windows that have gone bad. How would that fix anything? The glass has to at least be a sealed unit, that's installed in an old frame.

The shop makes a new glass unit. 2 panes, gas, seals. Everything. Then they pop that into the existing sash.

It’s basically the exact same process they would do to make custom windows. Just instead of making new frame pieces they reuse your current ones. The glass is just held into the sash with some clips.

The other big advantage is when you are just doing a couple of windows they will match perfectly, instead of new frame units that may look a bit different (design or color).

pensfan83

ab348 said:

stickguy said:

Also, the seal failed someplace to let the moisture in. How does this process prevent that from happening again?

Exactly. They seem to be trying to convince the pigeon customer that the leaks always occur on the bottom section of the frame and their process will fix that. I would be very dubious and would expect whatever actually caused the problem to return in short order. Just replace the sealed panes with new ones for a little more money. Don't be "penny-wise, pound-foolish" as the old saying goes. I would only do this air exchange business if you are planning to flip the house immediately.

It needs to be kept in mind too that tempered glass may be required, which will increase the cost.

Michaell

driver100 said:

My lucky day! The company that installed the windows 18 years ago said the windows are covered by their warranty, so they will replace all 30 windows, including tax and labor for $3100!
I think they have a 20 year warranty, it is a good thing they went after 18 years and not 21 years

Explain to me how a warrantied item will still cost you $3100?