Entry Door Insert, Slightly OT question!

I had to install high-performance windows in my home because I had to much
glass and the city code required the specialty windows. These units are
double glazed and have a gas between the panes. The windows were guranteed
for five years and one of them failed within the five year time. I now have
several which are failing and the window manufacturer I bought them from
went out of business. I now have permanent condensation in the windows. I
knew this was going to be a problem when I bought the windows in the first
place but that was the only way I could get a building permit. I thought of
drilling the windows using diamond bits and have had several rather heated
discussions about which side should be drilled: outside or inside. Perhaps
there is another solution. Any suggestions?

Thanks and best regards,
Charles

"Charles A. Peavey" wrote in message
...
I had to install high-performance windows in my home because I had to much
glass and the city code required the specialty windows. These units are
double glazed and have a gas between the panes. The windows were
guranteed
for five years and one of them failed within the five year time. I now
have
several which are failing and the window manufacturer I bought them from
went out of business. I now have permanent condensation in the windows. I
knew this was going to be a problem when I bought the windows in the first
place but that was the only way I could get a building permit. I thought
of
drilling the windows using diamond bits and have had several rather heated
discussions about which side should be drilled: outside or inside.
Perhaps
there is another solution. Any suggestions?

Thanks and best regards,
Charles



Since the city mandated them, maybe they'll pony up the money for the
replacements? ;)

What would be the point in drilling the glass? You won't eliminate the
condensation, and all you will do is have water running down somewhere
creating a possibility of wood rot, further compounding your problems.

Replace them with windows from a reliable, old-line company. Bubba's
Pretty-Fair Insulated Glass Company isn't the right choice.

"Moonraker" wrote in message
.. .

"Charles A. Peavey" wrote in message
...
I had to install high-performance windows in my home because I had
to much
glass and the city code required the specialty windows. These
units are
double glazed and have a gas between the panes. The windows were
guranteed
for five years and one of them failed within the five year time.
I now
have
several which are failing and the window manufacturer I bought
them from
went out of business. I now have permanent condensation in the
windows. I
knew this was going to be a problem when I bought the windows in
the first
place but that was the only way I could get a building permit. I
thought
of
drilling the windows using diamond bits and have had several
rather heated
discussions about which side should be drilled: outside or inside.
Perhaps
there is another solution. Any suggestions?

Thanks and best regards,
Charles



Since the city mandated them, maybe they'll pony up the money for
the
replacements? ;)

What would be the point in drilling the glass? You won't eliminate
the
condensation, and all you will do is have water running down
somewhere
creating a possibility of wood rot, further compounding your
problems.

Replace them with windows from a reliable, old-line company.
Bubba's
Pretty-Fair Insulated Glass Company isn't the right choice.



I would replace the windows too. If cost is an issue right now, you
could try to drill a couple of small holes. In our winters, the
condensation is caused from interior water vapour getting between
the glass layers and condensing on the colder glass surface. The
exterior
air in winter here is very dry.

The conventional thinking is that with a couple of small holes at the
bottom of the exterior pane of glass, this moist air can breath out
and
be replaced with the drier exterior air. Over time the condensation
should
disappear.

i think you should replace them all with stained glass. i'd be happy to do
the work for you. Most codes have an allowance when using leaded glass. m



"Charles A. Peavey" wrote in message
...
I had to install high-performance windows in my home because I had
to much
glass and the city code required the specialty windows. These
units are
double glazed and have a gas between the panes. The windows were
guranteed
for five years and one of them failed within the five year time.
I now
have
several which are failing and the window manufacturer I bought
them from
went out of business. I now have permanent condensation in the
windows. I
knew this was going to be a problem when I bought the windows in
the first
place but that was the only way I could get a building permit. I
thought
of
drilling the windows using diamond bits and have had several
rather heated
discussions about which side should be drilled: outside or inside.
Perhaps
there is another solution. Any suggestions?

Thanks and best regards,
Charles

It won't work if you drill holes only in the bottom. It WILL work if
you drill holes top and bottom. This creates a "chimney" effect so
air will enter the bottom holes, travel up the inside, and vent out
the top holes. This top/bottom venting is, for many glass artisans,
the preferred method of installing stained glass panels.

This fella is only one of thousands that have disovered the hard way
that many sealed units fail to stay sealed. It's why stained glass
panels should NOT be installed sandwiched inside such likely to fail
sealed units. Instead they should be installed separate from sealed
windows with allowance for ventilation.

Here's an explanation of how to provide such installation:

http://www.debrady.com/technical/art...m#installation

Hi Charles,

I live in New Brunswick, Canada. My home is 29 years old and has the
origional "Vented casement windows", manufactured by Pella Windows. Each
window is double glazed with 11/16" spacing between the glass. They have four
1/4" holes, two on each side between the glass, going from the inside of the
frame to the outside drilled parrallel with the glazing. The way the window
frame is designed the holes are not exposed to the outside elements. They are
located 3" from the upper and lower frame. These windows do not get
condensation between the glass. This winter we had temperature extremes of -35
F on a Friday night and up to a +40 F by Sunday afternoon. That is a 75 degree
change with no condensation.
I must admit to one of the windows steaming up a number of years ago.
It was caused by some type of wasp crawling into the holes and plugging them
up for a winter hibernation. The cure for that was checking each one of the
holes when we wash the windows in the fall. No wasp = no condensation.

If you decide to drill it would have to be on the outside otherwise warm,
moist air would be exposed to the outside cooler pane all the time.

Hope this helps,

Daymon

In article , "Charles A. Peavey"
wrote:
I had to install high-performance windows in my home because I had to much
glass and the city code required the specialty windows. These units are
double glazed and have a gas between the panes. The windows were guranteed
for five years and one of them failed within the five year time. I now have
several which are failing and the window manufacturer I bought them from
went out of business. I now have permanent condensation in the windows. I
knew this was going to be a problem when I bought the windows in the first
place but that was the only way I could get a building permit. I thought of
drilling the windows using diamond bits and have had several rather heated
discussions about which side should be drilled: outside or inside. Perhaps
there is another solution. Any suggestions?

Thanks and best regards,
Charles