Patio Door Window Condensation Problem

geanfranco · 30-10-2013 12:05pm #1

Hi all. About 3 years ago my bedroom patio door window was smashed by some thug who attempted to gain entry to the apartment. Anyhow i had this replaced and ever since this window completely fills up with condensation every morning. This NEVER occurred before the window was replaced. As you'll see from the attached picture, the window on the left has no condensation while the window which was replaced is completely covered in condensation (no other window in my apartment fills up with condensation like this).

I had the guy back who replaced it and he said there is nothing wrong with the window in terms of seals etc (he would say this of course! ).. So really i'm at my whits end about what i can do to fix this.
Before anyone asks..i'm not drying any clothes in the room and don't want to go the humidifier route as this looks like a problem purely with the window.

Does anyone know what the cause of this is...could it be that he fitted it poorly and there is some sort of leak in the seal allowing cold air into the inside of the window glazing???

Really would appreciate some pointers on how i can fix this!
Thanks folks
J.

LooksLikeRain · 30-10-2013 12:09pm

is the condensation on the inside of the glazed unit? Can you wipe off the condensation?

geanfranco · 30-10-2013 12:14pm

Its on the inside..can wipe the condensation..completely soaks the cloth!

mickdw · 30-10-2013 12:31pm

It seems the replacement you got is not performing to anywhere like the standard of your original glass.
If it were fogging up between the double glazing panels, it would be a faulty glazing unit. Seeing as this is not happening, it would appear that you simply got a low tech replacement. If your place is a recent build, it would be likely be fitted with an improved double glazing system such a Low E Glass which reduces temperature drop across the glass panes and the cavity between argon filled. The argon gas is an improvement over the (dry) air filled cavity. The spacer between panes can also be aluminium type or improved warm type.
You are probably looking at getting a new glazing unit yet again, Look at the spacer between the 2 panes of glass on the originally fitted glass. You will often find tiny print giving date of manufacture. If might also give additional info.

LooksLikeRain · 30-10-2013 12:33pm

This means the actual window unit is sealed.
Check for ventilation holes in the frame, they may be blocked on one side.
Also, the new unit may be airfilled whereas the previous unit was argon filled.

geanfranco · 30-10-2013 12:41pm

Thanks Mickdw, i do remember the guy mentioning at the time that it wasn't the exact same pane replacement because they didn't stock it..didn't think anything of it at the time and to be honest i needed to get the pane fixed straight away. I went with Dynorod for the glass repair. Also the new window fitted is nearly twice as heavy as the last pane of glass (if that gives more clues as to the type of glass)..I'll look at the original glass and see what information i can glean. If i need to get a new pane, would you be able to recommend a reputable supplier who could fit the LOW E glass with argon window? Thanks in advance..

geanfranco · 30-10-2013 12:42pm

Thanks Lookslikerain for the info..

LooksLikeRain · 30-10-2013 12:47pm

two companies who specializse in these type of replacments are
Energlaze http://www.energlaze.ie/
http://vikingenergyglass.ie/

I have got quotes from both in the past, but found energlaze hungry for the business whereas viking had to chased for the info requested.

mickdw · 30-10-2013 1:25pm

geanfranco wrote: »

...... Also the new window fitted is nearly twice as heavy as the last pane of glass (if that gives more clues as to the type of glass)..I'll look at the original glass and see what information i can glean. If i need to get a new pane, would you be able to recommend a reputable supplier who could fit the LOW E glass with argon window? Thanks in advance..

Being heavier would suggest that you got thicker glass and reduced air gap which probably wouldnt help.

detective · 05-11-2013 11:47am

What sort of quotes do energlaze and viking give?

geanfranco · 05-11-2013 12:42pm

energlaze came in at 250-300 and viking promised to get back to me but never did..exactly as LooksLikeRain said..viking don't really care about getting the business!!!

sbsquarepants · 05-11-2013 12:52pm

Sounds either like a blocked or missing permavent, or the replacement unit isn't as insulating as the broken one it replaced, due to either the glass thickness, the size of the airspace or what gas that space is filled with. If it's not a blocked permavent, the only solution I can think of is a replacement unit of higher spec.

detective · 06-11-2013 3:10pm

geanfranco wrote: »

energlaze came in at 250-300 and viking promised to get back to me but never did..exactly as LooksLikeRain said..viking don't really care about getting the business!!!

I presume that's per windows?

Patio Door Window Condensation Problem

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