Can a misted unit be dried out rather than replaced?
You will find outfits offering to do it — drill a small hole in the pane, clear the moisture, put a vent in and seal it up. The moisture does go, and for a while the window looks better. What has not happened is any repair to the thing that actually failed. The edge seal is still broken, the argon that was doing the insulating left when the seal went and is not coming back, and the unit is now a vented one, which means outside air passes through it from then on. Anything that etched the glass while it was wet stays etched. It is not a fix, it is a cosmetic tidy-up of a unit that has already stopped working.
What replacing it actually involves
Far less than people expect. The sealed unit is a separate piece sitting in the frame — the beads come off, the old unit lifts out, the rebate is cleaned up, the new one is bedded in and the beads go back. The window itself, the hinges and the handles are untouched, and there is no making good, no mess and no decorating afterwards.
Why the frame is worth a look at the same time
The drainage slots along the bottom of a frame have to stay clear so rain that gets past the gasket can escape. Silted up, the unit stands in water and the new seal is put under exactly the conditions that finished the old one. It takes a minute to check and clear and it is worth doing while the glass is out.
Get a price for your job in Tipton
Free quotes, no call-out charge and no obligation. Ring and describe it, or send a photo and rough sizes and we'll come back to you.
Common questions
Can you de-mist my window instead of replacing the glass?
The moisture can be cleared by drilling and venting, but it does not repair the failed seal, the insulating gas does not come back, and any etching on the glass stays. It is a cosmetic tidy-up rather than a repair, so we would rather be straight with you and replace the unit.
Is replacing the unit a big job?
No. The beads come off, the old unit lifts out and a new one is bedded in. The frame, hinges and handles stay exactly as they are and there is nothing to make good afterwards.
Which parts of Tipton do you cover?
Tipton, Princes End, Tividale, Ocker Hill, Great Bridge, Dudley Port, Toll End, Horseley Heath and Summerhill.
Everything else we do in Tipton
Repairs
Something's broken or stuck
Emergencies
Broken glass, made safe
Glass cut to size
Supplied, and fitted
Windows & doors
When repair isn't the answer