Author: jesse@adecstatic.com

Many companies offer customers micro vent glass repair service called micro venting, which claims to clean the foggy, stained interior of a sealed glass window without glass replacement. Once consumers understand how insulated glass behaves, they wisely choose to replace the failed insulated glass. Micro vents are not true repairs. They merely mask the problem.

Companies that vent the glass will drill one or more holes through the double pane unit. The interior may be flooded with some type of solvent to remove any hard water stains and spots, and the fluid is drained. Then, micro vents are installed to allow the unit to “breath” through a process called “solar pumping” which permits the moisture that remains behind to be forced out each time the window expands. The assertion is made that because the vent is “one way” no moisture enters the insulated glass unit again.

Micro venting would be an effective foggy window repair IF there weren’t other routes for moisture to enter insulated glass.

Remember – prior to the installation of the vent, the seal was already damaged, and water had already entered the unit! Seal damage was the reason moisture was originally able to enter the window. Has venting the window somehow miraculously repaired that original damage? In a word: no.

Venting simply never addresses the original seal failure that drew moisture into your glass in the first place: a breach in the original seal. Further, the unit – no longer sealed – is constantly breathing ambient air during solar pumping, and therefore does not offer the energy saving insulating qualities of a true, sealed insulated glass window unit.

Beware companies offering micro vent glass offers!

Replacement Glass vs. Insurance Claim!
Do you think you may need to file an insurance claim for damaged glass windows?

In many cases, you might be surprised to learn that replacement glass costs less than your insurance deductible! How’s this? First, your insurance company will send a glass board-up service. Later, they may recommend the entire window be replaced. Suddenly, you’re over your deducible, and you have a claim on your record. In many instances you may be able to restore the window with replacement glass and prevent the need to file a claim against your policy, all while saving money.

So why deal with the hassle of an insurance claim, wait for a board-up service and then wait days or weeks for replacement glass or a whole new window. It’s often possible for a glass replacement company to replace your broken glass in a single visit within hours or days from when damage occurs, and for a very limited cost. When a window is damaged in your home, consider a call to a local replacement glass company before you call your insurance and make sure you have options.

Replacement Glass vs. Insurance Claim.

Earth Friendly Replacement Glass
Energy conservation continues to be a top concern, whether for personal reasons such as saving money, or social reasons like wanting to preserve the environment. One of the primary sources for reducing energy consumption at the consumer level is to utilize insulated glass in homes and offices. By preventing heat from being lost in the winter, or being gained in the summer, insulated glass is highly valued for its role.

By requiring less electricity, oil, or natural gas to maintain comfortable interior temperatures, insulated glass reduces the carbon footprint of your property – but the green qualities of glass replacement are even more far-reaching when compared to getting new replacement windows!

First, when you choose to restore your existing windows, you reduce the amount of industrial waste created by manufacturers. Avoiding the release of dioxin into our water along with the utilization of lead, mercury and chlorine involved in the new window manufacturing process is a considerably greener alternative.

Second, when these windows reach the end of their useful life, their disposal in the landfill results in the slow, continual release of toxins into ground water as they are leached from the PVC during degradation, or into the air by incineration.

If you have older double pane glass, you can enhance energy efficiency by upgrading to low emissivity or “Low-E” glass. Using a special coating, Low-E glass prevents much of the UV light from entering through the glass, which helps keep the temperature inside more stable. Further, Low-E will also help protect upholstery, draperies, and flooring from become dry and faded from exposure to sunlight.

Vinyl replacement windows have many commendable attributes and can be an environmentally and financially sound choice when it is appropriate to replace windows. However, restoring existing windows, whether wood, vinyl, or fiberglass, greatly minimizes the negative effects of manufacturing on our planet. So long as your windows have years of useful life remaining, replacement and restoration is by far the greener choice!

Earth Friendly Replacement Glass!

When does a window need repair? Gone are the days of single pane glass. Insulated glass, also known as double pane insulating glass, thermopane or thermal glass, came into common use in the 1970’s. With rising energy costs and concern for the environment, insulated glass became widespread in the 1980’s. Today, in addition to double pane glass, triple pane glass is gaining popularity.

Modern windows and doors use smooth, distortion-free glass; known as plate glass, float glass, or flat glass. Glass is fabricated into an insulated unit consisting of two or three panes of glass, spacer material, and a sealant. If any one of these components becomes damaged or compromised, replacement is the first line of defense against lost energy efficiency, water damage, mold growth, or wood rot.

You may have noticed a window that just won’t come clean, or perhaps a home inspector found glass that has become fogged. In most cases, once moisture is drawn inside the insulated glass unit, the most effective and economical choice is to replace the unit. This allows the sash and frame to be used again, keeping the aesthetics of the property intact.

There are professional glass companies almost everywhere that can provide economical repair to insulated glass. The cost to repair damages that have led to foggy, ugly, or inefficient windows is a fraction of the cost of replacing the windows altogether. If your windows are foggy, ugly or letting in a draft – it’s time for insulated glass repair.

And hopefully now you know when a window needs repair.

Glass repair and replacement are common needs for many homeowners. When your home needs replacement glass in a window, door or other piece, it’s good to know the different types of replacement glass.

Types of replacement glass thickness:

• 3/32” Single Strength Glass. Light, flimsy easily broken.
• 1/8” Double Strength Glass. Significant gain in stability, less likely to flex.
• 3/16” Glass. Suitable for larger applications such as picture windows.
• 1/4” Glass. For very large insulated glass units, commercial use, or heavy glass frameless shower enclosures.

Types of replacement glass color or pattern variations and usage:

• Clear Glass: No added tint or coating, maximum light penetration
• Low-E Glass: Special coating scatters UV light. Reduces glare, greatly improves energy efficiency, and protects furniture, upholstery, and drapery from fading.
• Pattern Glass: During manufacturing, glass is processed through extra steps to press patterns into the glass, etch the surface, or impart deliberate imperfections to achieve an artistic look. Useful for decorative purposes, creating privacy, or replicating vintage glass.
• Tinted Glass: Minerals are added to the glass give a distinct color, such as aqua or amber, for dramatic architectural applications.

Specialty types of replacement glass:

• Mirropane: gives the appearance of a mirror on whichever side has brighter ambient light, yet offers visibility from the opposing side.
• Mirror: multiple layers are added to glass, both reflective coatings and then also an opaque layer to prevent light from passing through. Better mirrors feature 1/8” or 3/16” glass and give a clear, distortion-free image.
• Heat-treated Glass: Glass can be tempered, which results in what is commonly called “safety glass.” If broken, it forms small chunks. Used in doors, windows adjacent to doors or close to the floor, shower enclosures, and other locations where safety is a concern.
• Laminate Glass: Two sheets of glass are bound together with a sheet of polyvinyl carbonate (PVC), which holds to the glass, even if it is broken. Offers both safety and security.
• Bullet Resistant: Very heavy glass that features both heat strengthening and multiple layers bound together with laminating compounds.

Hurricane Rated Glass: Strengthened laminate glass used in areas where high winds may cause flying objects to impact glass.

Replacement glass or glass repair for your home is usually a job best suited for a professional. No matter where you live, there’s sure to be at least one glass shop that can help you with any of your needs.

Hopefully this post about types of replacement glass will better prepare you for you next glass project.