My Double Pane Window Is Foggy

The wood gets too wet and starts to rot and eventually the glass seal breaks down.

My double pane window is foggy. In these situations it s as simple as replacing the insulated glass unit. Due to the design of a double pain window it is prone to fogging up inside. This is an unfortunate flaw of many double pane windows. If multiple pane windows appear misty or foggy it means that the seal protecting the window assembly has failed.

The bane of double pane windows is the dreaded f word. There are things that one can do about it ranging from cheap and temporary to expensive and permanent. Then glue small plastic tubes in the holes to prevent further moisture from getting into the window. The downside to double windows is that they can be prone to collecting condensation that results in parts of the window fogging up and decreasing visibility.

It s also important to note that foggy windows are more than an inconvenience. Foggy double pane windows are a nuisance for several reasons not least because the fog makes it hard to see out of them. Whether it is just a simple sealed glass sandwich of two glass panes or a more sophisticated igu with coatings and inert gas filling the space between panes these windows can easily double. The haze can be severe like in the photo above or less obvious unless there is glare on the surface as in the photos below.

While the foggy windows may evaporate and clear up from day to day if left untreated calcium in condensation can etch the glass and leave a permanent hazy appearance on your windows. Insulated double and triple pane windows officially known as igus insulated glass units offer far better energy efficiency that single pane glass. When condensation between double pane windows forms the seal on the glass is broken. If you have window panes that are clouded over it s likely that they are double pane insulated and have lost the inert gas sealed between the two panes of glass.

The procedure typically involves drilling a hole into the frame and pumping a cleaning solution inside. In humid climates wooden window frames are often the culprit. As many homes have double pane windows some will eventually get foggy. But before we look at how to make your foggy windows sparkle again we need to look at how they are constructed in order to understand the nature of the problem of fogginess.

Such windows are also commonly called thermal windows. The moisture is sucked out and a defogger device is attached to the window. When double pane windows fog up they look really dirty and reduce visibility through the windows. Foggy windows are a result of moisture buildup between double paned windows.