It may be time to replace your failed sealed unit

Weather and temperature fluctuations which are common in Canada can cause momentous wear and tear on your windows. While most windows especially newer ones are designed to handle these extreme changes, failure in the insulating unit is still a common occurrence.

You may be wondering though, how exactly does my sealed unit work? In a double-paned window, two panes of glass are separated and held together by an insulating spacer, and the entire unit is clad in a sash that can be made of vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass or wood.

Now that you know how it works, it’s time to check if the sealed unit is failing. The most obvious sign of a failed sealed unit is condensation between the panes of glass, as this means that moisture has been able to seep through the seal. When this happens, the glass will appear foggy or dirty. This is not to be confused with condensation on the interior side of the window which is quite normal and to be expected. If you can’t wipe away the droplets of moisture, then they are inside the sealed unit which has failed. Causes of the failure may include damage to the pane, such as a crack, or from expansion and contraction.

What can I do about my failed sealed unit? The best solution to this problem is to have the unit replaced. This does not involve replacing the entire window frame; just the insulated glass unit needs to be replaced.