Two different ages of window are failing here at once
Walsall's double glazing arrived in waves, and both are giving trouble at the moment for opposite reasons. The terraces closer in mostly had uPVC dropped into the original openings twenty-five or thirty years ago, and those units are simply at the end of a normal working life — a sealed unit is not a permanent thing and thirty years is a fair innings. Out towards Aldridge and Streetly the newer estates are on their first or second set, and some of those are misting a good deal sooner than they ought to. The replacement is the same job either way, but it is worth knowing which one you have, because a young unit that has gone is telling you something about the window it was sitting in.
The frame stays exactly where it is
This is the part that surprises people most. A blown unit does not mean a new window. The glass unit is a separate piece sitting in the frame, and it comes out and goes back in on its own — hinges, handles, sill and frame all stay put. There is no making good afterwards and no reason to replace a window that is otherwise doing its job.
If it has misted for a second time
A replacement that fails early is usually the frame's fault rather than the glass. Sealed units are not meant to sit in water: the drainage slots along the bottom of the frame have to be clear so rain that gets past the gasket can escape, and when they silt up the unit stands in a puddle and the seal goes again. It is worth having those checked and cleared at the same time as the glass is changed, otherwise the new unit is being set up to fail the same way.
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Common questions
My window misted again not long after it was replaced. Why?
Nine times out of ten it is drainage. If the slots in the bottom of the frame are blocked, the unit sits in water and the seal fails early. We clear them when we fit, and it is worth checking on any window that has gone twice.
How long should a sealed unit last?
There is no fixed figure, but twenty to thirty years is a reasonable life for a well-fitted unit that drains properly. Much less than that and something about the installation is usually worth a look.
Which parts of Walsall do you cover?
All of the borough — Pelsall, Aldridge, Brownhills, Rushall, Streetly, Darlaston, Walsall Wood and the villages between them.
Everything else we do in Walsall
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