Misting of plastic windows: causes and remedies.
Plastic windows are very well adapted to any climatic conditions. It is also worth noting that they do not require special care and do not need painting, which greatly facilitates their operation.
But, unfortunately, like any thing, plastic windows have their drawbacks. The main thing, perhaps, can be called their periodic fogging. It is about this problem that we will talk about today, and also try to find ways to solve it.
What does a double-glazed window of a plastic window consist of?
A double-glazed window is a sealed structure consisting of several glasses connected to each other. Glasses form chambers filled with dry air or inert gas. There are single, double or triple glazed windows. A desiccant material is located at the bottom of each chamber.
If the tightness of at least one chamber is broken, then moist air will get inside the glass unit. When the air temperature drops, moisture will begin to condense on the glass surface (fogging). With a high level of air humidity, excluding fogging, water can accumulate inside the glass unit.
The reason for the depressurization of the glass unit can be mechanical damage, manufacturing defects or improper installation.
In the event of faulty or incorrect installation, the costs of repairing the window are covered under the guarantee from the company that installed the window. If the window is damaged, the warranty will not cover the costs.
Find out more about the design of plastic windows and its elements here.
Incorrect window installation
The first reason that can cause fogging of windows is improper installation of the structure. The most unpleasant thing about this is that we pay people money for low-quality work, and after they leave, we find unpleasant surprises.
Not so long ago, my acquaintances found themselves in a similar situation. The fast masters installed a window with an exit to the balcony, received a wailing payment, and then left. It looks like they installed the frame incorrectly, as a result of which it was pretty skewed and the exit to the balcony became inaccessible. The door did not open! On top of that, after every rain, it leaked, as the balcony was not glazed.
The company did not deny the possibility of incorrect installation of the frame, but for some reason it was in no hurry to make sure of this clearly. The new masters came to see what was the matter only a few days later. They cut off all the foam, unscrewed the anchors and reinstalled the frame. The balcony door began to open, and after the rain it no longer leaked.
It became clear that the previous craftsmen installed the frame with a break. Because of what the listed inconveniences appeared. Therefore, if problems with a plastic window began immediately after its installation, there is a great risk of incorrect installation. This deficiency can be corrected only with the help of specialists.
After the plastic window is installed, you need to take care of its high-quality finish. Slopes deserve special attention. You can, of course, limit yourself to plastic panels, but it is better to make full-fledged slopes from plaster, both from the inside and the outside. All cracks are carefully foamed with polyurethane foam and additionally treated with a sealant.
Consequences of depressurization of a double-glazed window and ways to eliminate them
Depressurization of a double-glazed window will entail a deterioration in all technical characteristics of the window:
- thermal insulation;
- sound insulation;
- fogging in cold weather.
How and what to clean plastic windows, you will learn in the article. Which windows to choose - plastic or wooden. Review of characteristics, cost, advantages and disadvantages.
Read about the types and rules for choosing combined windows here.
If water appears inside the glass unit or it fogs up from the inside, then the only effective solution is to replace the glass unit. This is a simple operation that does not require dismantling the window frame. You just need to pull out the old glass unit and install a new one.
How to reduce fogging of windows in the cold season, read the article How to reduce moisture condensation on plastic windows.
It is very difficult to repair a depressurized glass unit at home. After all, even if it turns out to find and eliminate the leakage of the structure, the window will still fog up, because the air inside the glass unit is moist, and the moisture from the sealed space does not evaporate.
The main causes of moisture formation
Plastic windows accumulate condensation in winter, more often in the morning. Glasses sweat from bottom to top, forming water paths. As a result, a puddle appears on the windowsill, and then on the floor.
Why are plastic windows leaking? There are several main reasons:
- Single-chamber double-glazed window. Moisture forms on it faster due to the low degree of thermal protection.
- The battery is blocked by a window sill or not under a window. Air circulation is disturbed, the window does not receive enough heat.
- The battery does not heat up or does not heat well in the kitchen. Owners often ignore this if the winter is not cold and they often cook indoors.
- The room is not ventilated properly. If we are talking about a kitchen, then there may be no extractor hood or central ventilation clogged.
- There is an additional source of moisture. These are usually houseplants that are regularly watered.
- The windows are not switched to winter mode due to the forgetfulness of the owners.
- The room is not ventilated.
- Installation errors. This is the rarest reason why plastic windows leak.
Single-chamber double-glazed window - a possible reason for plastic windows leaking
Window leakage in an apartment can be eliminated or the likelihood of its occurrence can be reduced.
How to replace a glass unit on plastic windows
To dismantle the old glass unit, you will need the following tools: a chisel or spatula and a rubber hammer. Dismantling takes place in 2 consecutive steps:
- Pry the lower glazing bead (the strip that holds the glass unit) with a chisel or spatula and hit the chisel a couple of times (lightly) with a hammer. The shtapik should come off its seat. Then remove the remaining glazing beads in the same way.
- Pull the glass unit out of the frame or sash. If the glass is cracked, it may break completely when pulled out, therefore gloves and protective goggles must be used.
For installation, you will need additional tools and materials: a tape measure and linings for double-glazed windows of different sizes.
Algorithm for installing a new double-glazed window:
- Remove the exact dimensions of the old glass unit and order the manufacture of a new one. It is best to order from the same company that installed the window.
- Install the linings on the window according to the scheme provided in the technical documents.
- Place the glass unit on the spacers and center it so that the gaps from the frame are the same on all sides. If you need to align the glass unit, you can install a lining of a suitable size.
- Install the glazing beads in their original places. At the same time, it is very important not to mix them up.
The windows are crying - what to do?
Various methods help to get rid of condensation in window openings:
- regular ventilation,
- using the micro-ventilation function of the window system,
- operation of a comb that limits the angle at which the sash deflects,
- installation of the climatic valve at the top of the frame.
You can install an air conditioner equipped with a split system, increase the glass filling area by changing the windows. The humidity is lowered by the convection screen in the window opening, which directs the warm air mass onto the glass. You can put a glass of salt on the windowsill, mount a fan on the window. Try to treat the glass with an anti-fog compound for cars, equip it with low-voltage electric heating. Hang light thin curtains, do not clutter the windowsill with plants, decor, vessels with water. If you suspect that the profile is not installed correctly, contact the installers who installed the windows.
How to remove the dimensions of a double-glazed window before parsing the structure
It will take some time to make a new glass unit. In order not to be left without a glazed window this time, you can measure the glass unit without removing it. To do this, you need to perform several actions:
- Measure the distance from one joint of the glazing bead and the frame to the opposite joint, and then subtract 10 mm from the obtained value. This is how the height and width of the glass unit is measured.
- To measure the thickness of the glass unit, you need to remove one glazing bead and insert a pre-made wire hook into the gap between the frame and the glass. Hook on the far edge of the glass unit and make a mark on the wire along the near edge of the glass. Then pull out the wire and measure the thickness.
Before proceeding with the self-repair of a double-glazed window, it is necessary to take into account that the device of fastening of various brands of windows is different from each other, therefore, the newly manufactured elements may not fit the old window.
The easiest way to repair a glass unit of a plastic window is to call a specialist who will independently figure out the device of the window, take measurements and select suitable materials for replacing or repairing the window.
How to eliminate freezing of a plastic window -. Condensation on plastic windows - causes, ways and means of elimination.
Read about the care, cleaning and replacement of the plastic window and door seal in this article.
Temporary glass unit repair
If the reason for the depressurization of the glass unit is mechanical damage (crack, chip or hole), then it is necessary to replace it. However, during the manufacture of a new glass unit, the defect of the old one can worsen and lead to complete destruction.
In order to prevent crack growth and reduce heat losses through it, it is necessary to strengthen the defect with any transparent sealant, for example, silicone. Such manipulations will not eliminate the defect, but will only delay the time until complete destruction.
Learn more about the causes and repair of cracks in a glass unit of a plastic window from the article Repair of a broken glass unit.
There are cases when there are no obvious defects in the glass unit, but it still fogs up from the inside. Regardless, it needs to be replaced. After all, the fact is that moisture has penetrated into the air chamber and when the temperature drops, it will condense on the glass. Even if you manage to make the glass unit airtight again, it is very difficult to remove moisture, and without this the defect cannot be eliminated.
The appearance of moisture inside the glass unit is a signal of a malfunction in the window structure. If this problem is eliminated in a timely manner, then the window will continue to maintain the comfort of your home. You can replace the glass unit yourself, but it is better to entrust it to professionals. Indeed, in case of poor quality work, there will be someone to ask.
"I answer in order."
1. Drainage holes may simply not cope with the large flow of water that will go "over the edge" to your windowsill and even the floor.Over the years, the drainage holes can become clogged and their throughput decreases, or even completely closes.
There have been cases of drainage milled incorrectly at the factory and had no way out, that is, moisture filled the profile chambers where it froze inside at low temperatures! !! Or the drains are clogged with chips after milling (drilling).
Or ... ATTENTION! They stupidly forgot to drill them at all! What about? - in the early 2000s, there were garage production facilities in Russia, mushrooms after the rain! Therefore, no one particularly bothered himself in observing the technologies.
So check your windows for drains.
FOUND? Now fill in a glass of water and start pouring into the frame. Water should freely come out through the hole on the outside. If this does not happen, then you need to look for the cause and urgently eliminate it. It is better to entrust it to the master.
To be honest, the reason for the drain holes is less relevant than WHAT YOU READ FURTHER ...
2. AND THIS IS THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR LEAKING PLASTIC WINDOWS
- this is a broken sealing rubber! This happens in five to seven years. The rubber has dried up, deformed, roughly speaking, has become oak. Accordingly, in addition to water, cold air, dust and noise from the street also pass through such a "seal".
And if you still think that "some kind of elastic band cannot affect the whole window ..."
“STILL AS POSSIBLE!
«
With such defects, the meaning in plastic windows is completely lost!
And now it's time to find out "How to eliminate the leakage of plastic windows"
BEGIN WITH A STORY, how literally today I solved these problems with my own hands.
Taking with me super rubber "non-blowing" about a hundred meters, I come to the first client. The puddles of water were removed from the windowsill after the rain, but there was still fresh water inside the frame.
So. DIAGNOSTICS. The windows are eight years old. KBE profile. The ROTO fittings work flawlessly. There are enough pressure points around the perimeter. The overlap of the sash to the frame is ideal. Useless single-leaf rubber. All clear! ... Just in case, I check the work of the training holes - pour water from the glass into the profile - the water comes out in a brisk trickle.
Output:
Plastic windows leak through a dead rubber seal. The drains do not cope with the flow of rain and water entering the frame through the first circuit of the non-working seal, overflows into the room through the second circuit of the same quality. RUBBER SEAL REQUIRED! Everything!
Eight doors, fifteen minutes each - two hours later I already left another happy client. Something like that!
Problem is GUARANTEED fixed! Checked a hundred times!
Do you want to be a happy customer?
Then call right now - stop being on duty with a rag by the window!
