Insulated Glass Units (IG units)
What is an insulated glass unit?
It is two or more glass window panes separated by a dead air space or gas-filled space to reduce heat transfer into the interior of a space.
What are the benefits to have a insulated glass unit?
Some of the benefits are that you no longer require storm windows over you windows, they allow for better air sealing, they help maintain the desired temperature in the interior, and if maintained properly they have a long life expectancy.
***Please allow 7-10 business days for insulated glass units to be manufactured. This varies depending on the unit make up and any additional options the customer orders. We will notify you if lead times for you order will be longer.***
Cross section cutaway of the makeup of an insulated glass unit
Why did my insulated glass unit fail?
- The glass is broken
If the is cracked or broken in any way the seal has been lost on the unit and you are not being insulated from the exterior temperatures. This does not mean that you have to immediately replace the unit if you have one pane of glass intact you are still sealed up from the elements, but if you do have both panes broken we can board up the opening while the new insulated glass unit is being manufactured. - The unit had a seal go bad ("Fogged up")
IG units have a perimeter seal around the edge that can go bad which allows outside air into the unit. This outside air contains moisture which starts to gather or condense on the inside of the unit. The effect of this moisture condensing on the inside surface of the glass normally gives it a foggy effect and can interact with any surface coatings that may be inside you IG unit. - The surface coating starts to go bad
Some IG units have different types of surface coating to reduce inferred heat transfer and light transmission. These coatings can fail and will become ugly or start peeling inside of the unit. If the coating has failed sometime it can look like splotches of mold on the inside, or rings are form on the inside of the glass, or sometimes it shows up as a rainbow effect on the interior of the glass. General surface coating failure is usually caused by seal failure and the moisture builds up in the unit.
Any of these failures can be remedied by contacting us and scheduling an appointment to measure the glass for replacement.
Ordering process
To order an insulated glass unit (IGU) replacement, customers have two main options if the glass is mostly intact:
- Bring the window sash into our shop. We will disassemble it to remove the old IGU, take exact measurements for the new custom-sized IGU, and reassemble the sash while you wait so you can take it back home and install it back in the frame while the IGU is on order. The new IGU typically takes 7-10 business days to manufacture once ordered. When it arrives, you bring the sash back in for us to install the IGU and can then re-install the sash into the window frame. This option saves on labor costs since there is no on-site visit required.
- Schedule an on-site visit to your home. We will remove the sash, take measurements, temporarily reinstall the sash, order the custom IGU, then return to install the new IGU once it is ready. This option costs more in labor for the two visits but may be more convenient.
If the glass is completely broken out, we have some temporary solutions to seal the opening while waiting for the replacement IGU:
- We can board up the window opening to seal it. This adds cost for materials and labor.
- We can install a board directly into the sash to cover the broken glass. This is less costly than boarding up the full opening but still adds material and labor costs.
- If the window has a removable screen, you can place the screen in a large trash bag (with the opening facing down) to temporarily seal the opening.
- Tape and plastic sheeting can also be used to cover broken glass and seal the window.
Even with broken glass, bringing in the sash for measurements and ordering a replacement IGU is often the best long-term solution. Contact us to discuss the options if you have fully broken glass. We're happy to help make the process as smooth as possible.
Please contact us to discuss the options and get a cost estimate based on your window measurements. We're happy to explain the process and ensure your new IGU is ordered and installed smoothly!
