Cleaning a Foggy/Hazy Window Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) from the Inside, Without Replacing the Glass
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- This is a DIY method I used to clean my hazy windows with failed seals. The total cost is small (under $100 in tools and supplies) for many windows. The method may be more difficult for some windows than it was for mine. See CORRECTIONS below.
ATTENTION: Windows may still temporarily fog up after this is done, especially on cold mornings. The primary goal is to remove the dry haze that makes the glass opaque.
Every time I walk past my picture window I'm amazed that I can see the outside (it was hazy when I moved in some years ago). Both windows I cleaned are perfectly clear (though they may seem fuzzy in photos) during the day. Replacement cost for the glass would have been very high (4-digit).
CORRECTIONS: (see Instructable below): An aquarium air pump is much better and safer than a compressor. Thinner needles are probably better. I did seal the holes with caulk eventually, on a very dry, cold day, and it fogged up in a few months, so I don't recommend this. I have since uncovered the holes and it's doing well - it fogs up a little but clears up on its own.
00:00 Intro
00:24 How Windows Become Foggy
01:25 Repair Process Overview
02:10 Tools and Supplies
10:30 Repair Process
12:08 Optional Compressor Drying (UNSAFE!)
13:00 Window Reassembly
13:35 Side-By-Side
Full Instructable here:
www.instructables.com/Cleanin...
I just want to chime in and say that this video saved me 22 thousand dollars. You literally bought me a car. THANK YOU.
Glad it helped you. This was my hope for making this video.
Probably the best educational video presentation for cleaning DG glass I have seen so far
TH-cam is great. Allows people to call out the contractor BS. Great job. Thanks for sharing
Until it goes wrong and no warranty kinda means the efforts will be wasted anyways 🤷🏼♂️
Found the contractor 😉
Finally no music.
👍 you are a natural teacher! I enjoyed watching this even though I could never do it!😂
Thanks for skipping the music. Excellent work.
Worth every effort to fix those superb arched windows.
As many said, this is the best video presentation I have seen on this topic. Will try it out and reply back-thanks so much!
Fantastic video. Thank you for your time and efforts to produce it.
I am so glad I found this film. I have the same problem at my house and have done a lot of research. If you want to look at more of the same try searching 'get the mist out' or crystal clear window works. Both professional firms but the same end result. Using this set up will save me a huge amount of money. Many thanks.
You're awesome! thanks for the effort to showing everyone how this is done. Zero resources for DIY as folks want to charts 1k$ per window replacement.
I am going to pay someone to do this because I am not handy and I do not have nor do I wish to obtain all the equipment you have around your workshop, but it has been an invaluable education on how this is done. I will understand the process when I hire the company who does this.
Did you end up hiring a company?
@@robbieg25 these folks have a regional business they send a guy and measure your windows. they show up with replacements and pop them in the frames. it was quite reasonable.
Very helpful explanation. Thanks so much!
Super cool video. Love your creativity.
Great video. I have 5 large windows similar to the dome window with the same hazing. Quite to “Replace and not repair” the issue were mind boggling. I saw kits such as your going for $360.00. I will follow your procedure and comment upon completion. I will likely usa C02 to blow out the alcohol. Thanks for the video, great stuff!!!!
Dude that was frickin awesome. Only 74 likes with 3k views? What's wrong with people. I hit like 2 minutes in.
Looks like ur easily pleased or you’re using sarcasm. I doubt this botched job will work and definitely not with seals left open. In winter when the air in the gap contracts it will suck in moist air and he’ll get condensation all over again 🤷🏼♂️
It's a very tricky long winded and sub optimal solution that requires to buy many special parts. I don't like all his heat gun to shrink or pull vinyl tube connection work. Also he is the type of guy that will hide the struggle he went through and pretend his idea is clever but will aggravate people who try it. That 's the main problem with united statian "must win, i'm the best" childish culture, they never give an impartial view, after they struggled their ass over it, they'll say that was easy look how good i am.
To connect the chain of decreasing diameter hoses an adhesive like GOOP will aid joining as it will act like a lubricant and when set should give you a strong seal in the join. Great video, I will try on my cottage windows this coming summer.
I found he attached Instructable very helpful as it included a lot of the additional hacks mentioned within replies to comments. Thanks!!
Thanks for putting in all that work and sharing with us... when they say that it can't be done I get very skeptical
Yes, likely coming from a salesman too.
My dad’s original gas boiler furnace is the original (1960’s) and we have been told to replace the furnace countless times lol. Just replace the circulation pump every few years and it’s been 60 years strong. Of course the 1st pump lasted the longest and subsequent pumps get progressively poorer in quality and higher in price. 😂
+1 point for the DIY’ers.
I'm going to try this but I'm a little concerned about the oilyness of compressor air. If a hairdryer takes too long, maybe my leafblower being careful not to blow in dirt from either the surrounding area or via the intake.
Thank you
I had planned to drill 2 holes to let mine vent but now that I see your method for poking holes, ill try that first before buying a diamond tip hole saw.
thanks
Outstanding!
Thank you for the tips
Great vid mate. I have followed your instructions, the drilling the seal. Top tip.👍. I found normal strength white vinegar did the trick. VERY carefully drilling a 10 mm hole in the seal made the job easier..
How long did it last? Do you still get fogging?
Did you have metal seals? Did you have to remove the window pane in order to drill in?
That is amazing. Daaaang
Fan fracking tastic!
Buen trabajo amigo
Great video. Yes, the argon doesn't add much. When you buy windows to install at high altitude they can install capillary tubes to equalize the pressure anyway, so there's no argon. Better to do it in a controlled way than to have them break as you get to higher altitude. I've lived at high altitude for a long time & you can always tell when people haven't used the capillary tubes - they get them at a home depot at low altitude & drive them up the mountain & pop! goes the window. Theirs are always fogged.
No, brother, we live at ELEVATION (I am at 9800 feet elevation). Altitude is height above the earth's surface, notably sea level. I am fairly confident neither you, nor your house, is levitating.
Great video, explained well. Any thoughts if doing this on a sky light would be any different. I am not sure I have see those those tabs (drain caps?) that you removed where you poked through for your needles. Thanks again.
Great idea but if you got a square window start at the top
Thank you for the video! We have a workshop window like this and wondered if anything could be done for cheap. It’s not a window worth replacing since it’s not a critical window or fancy building, but it bothers me that I can’t see out. If I break it, no big deal. Will be trying this trick soon! Jason
It’s been 2 months…did you try it?
@@ruidadgmailcanada8508 no but I’ve stared at it thoroughly. Part of the process :-)
@@jasonmayne1 Did you ever get around to it ?
@@SunriseLAW Probably doesn't bother him any longer. I went on a tough "vacation". When I got home, everything looked wonderful. EVERYTHING!
I just need you to come to my house and do it!
Excellent video! It is several levels above my pay grade/skill level but I “have people” with these skills and tools and I know they would definitely be up for the task! Do you think a can of compressed air might work? Thanks again for sharing this info!
I haven't tried it, so wouldn't recommend it. Compressed air from a can is actually a refrigerant that can hyper-cool the glass, and it may be difficult to control the pressure inside the window (it would not take a lot of pressure to break it). An aquarium air pump is still my top choice for drying (not an air compressor, but I can't change the video). It's slow and steady, and can be left unattended (overnight). Slow and unlimited is likely better than a quick burst, in this application.
@@akomakomakom great answer!
Great video! Exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks!
Were you able to fix the windows?
@@user-lf4td9xr4v By the time I gathered what I needed it was too cold. Doing it soon. Almost spring here now.
@@phreaker13 Could you let me know the result please? I want to know, lol. I'm looking at 15 foggy windows at my "new" house.
@@user-lf4td9xr4v Will do.
Thank you for teaching us how to remove mineral deposits between the window panes. I'm wondering if the water condensation between the panes isn't going to come back quickly after this cleaning procedure. I imagine it would, because the dessicant in the window frame is not dried during this procedure, also whatever leaks existed in the window seal before the cleanup started aren't fixed so the outside humidity will get right back in between the panes.
This is the most commonly asked question in the comments for this video. To summarize my prior answers: If you leave the holes you made open, fogging will be limited to specific weather conditions and will clear up on its own, eventually.
I have seen kits where you put in a dessicant mix into the DG unit which soaks up all of the moisture allegedly - has anyone heard if these also work?
When I installed my new argon filled windows. The contractor working for the window company I bought the windows from commented that there was no guarantee that the argon put in at the factory was still present in the window due to the way windows twist and turn during transport and installation. They twist allowing for seal to sometimes be broken.
That is an interesting point. U ratings are probably accurate in a lab, but is window efficiency tested after delivery and installation, and compared to non-argon?
Luckily I've got the equipment sorry he has the equipment so thanks to you I'm gonna give this a bash😉Wish me luck🙈😝
If you haven't already, check the CORRECTIONS section in the video description before you embark. Good Luck!
Can this be done on a sliding glass old door? I don’t want to replace it, it’s too expensive to replace?!
I did this and it worked amazing. They window got sparkling clean. Then I tried to blow air through the case to quick dry it. The window shattered. DONT BLOW AIR INTO IT! I was using a small pool float inflater and it was still to much pressure inside.
Thanks for mentioning that again. As I said in the description under "Corrections", a small aquarium air pump is the way to go. Air line should fit loosely into the hole and there should be a second exit hole.
Sorry about your window.
I also made a mistake. I drilled a hole in the top and started to fill it with water and some cleaner. When the window got half full, it burst. The hydrostatic pressure was too much.
The air compressor will add moisture back in. Dry Nitrogen would be a good use for that.
I no longer recommend the use of a compressor (too dangerous, use an aquarium air pump). That said, it doesn't make as much difference as you may think. The window seals have failed. Even if you plug the holes when you are done, moisture will work its way in and out of the window over time. The little moisture you add while blowing air is negligible. Leaving the holes open tends to yield fairly satisfactory results (occasional minor fogging that clears on its own).
@@akomakomakomgood deal. Yeah it’s just a temporary fix no matter what. Thanks for all the tips! It would be cool to maybe be able to blow nitrogen in it once in a while to dry it out.
Before watching this, i wasn't sure there was anything i could do to fix my window. Now I'm sure of it.
110% helpful amazing presentation and skillfully executed; just one question, why wouldn't you seal the holes back up if moisture infiltration is what caused the problem to begin with?
Because moisture infiltration didn't happen through these holes, it happened through failed seals. In other words, it will happen again, and moisture will be trapped. I mentioned that in the video description, but I've been meaning to make a follow-up video with some other ideas.
@Akom okay I get it now sorry I must have missed that 200% awesome job and useful info
@@akomakomakomyes, please, a follow up video with more tips would be incredibly useful. Also, any further ideas about aiming for large windows would be fantastic. Our DG panes are 8 ft tall x 85” wide (not including the frame, e.g. the glass itself). Pella, Anderson, etc. companies won’t install that size so we are having a lot of trouble finding someone to replace them. This could be our answer, thank you!!
Thank you - awesome. I wonder if coming in from the top (if you can reach that is) would of made it easier to fill (not necessarily drain)?
It would definitely have been easier to spray.
With the windows I was working on, to make a hole in the top I would probably have to drill the outer frame or remove the IGU.
If I were drilling through glass, then diagonal corners would make the most sense.
The best video I have seen so far!! I have silvery streaks in my double pane window. I am not sure what this stuff is. Is this the mineral deposit you are mentioning? Will your method clear this stuff?
Silvery streaks could be damaged/delaminated interior tint. "Low-E" coating is a type of tint. If you have nothing to lose, you can give this method a shot. You could also poke in there with a metal instrument (eg needle) and see how the streaks respond. If they are peeling like a tint, then it's probably a bad idea to spray solvents in there, as it could make a huge mess. Good luck.
@@akomakomakom thanks for the reply! however, it does not look like any tinting is peeling. The silvery streaks or dots look like made up of what looks like tiny specks of molds and most of my windows are developing this stuff inside. Any idea what it could be?
@@tommason5689I'd attempt to squirt a tiny amount of vinegar in there (wetting only a few inches of glass), and see what happens.
@@akomakomakom In my case, the glass has rubber seal covered under something gray. Not sure whether it is metal or plastic. So I do not think I can poke through into inside like you did. So it looks like I have to drill holes to try your suggestion. Once I find the right drill bit and proper equipment. I will try the vinegar and alcohol treatment. Nevertheless, I wish someone could tell me what the nature of silvery streaks and dots are. I am pretty sure other people should have similar problem but no one seems to know what it is. Thanks a lot for your replies anyway.
Great job on your customized engineering tools and showing how to clean these types of windows.
Our primary living room windows are the only ones in our old wooden house like these windows and they are expensive to replace.
So cleaning them is my only option to do. I love watching DIY videos & gave it a long shot to find a way to clean between the glass of these types of windows.
We suspect they were installed in the 1970s and their age is showing.
Thanks for your video & I hope to clean mine as soon as weather warms up and stays that way.
Any luck? Looking to try this as well!
So you didnt fill your holes back to allow for a drain. But what you do to repair the seal which initially caused this problem to begin with ? Also, how long did your IGU remain "clean" before it started getting foggy again ?
My guess is that you lave it be. With this tiny ventilation you may not get that trapped humidity and evaporation cycle that will deposit minerals on the glass.
Your local climate is a big factor.
I’ll be doing this on my folks 4-season sunroom…although the cataract-like windows do offer some privacy lol.
@@ruidadgmailcanada8508hahaha!! Loved the cataract reference!
I had a professional clean & reseal my windows and they got foggy again in 3 years. I think that once the seals are blown you'll never find every little break in them, so might as well give the moisture somewhere to drain.
You may need to caulk all around the outside glass, I did. Prevents H2O re-entry.
I must add that i also drill 2 holes in the glass so air I pump in one can escape the other. I finish by covering the holes with small circular band aids to keep bugs out and to breathe.
Did you drill into the seal, or did you drill into the glass itself???
@@myradiovideos drilled the glass using Dremel with diamond bit and spray h2o bottle
@@myradiovideos found a ball shaped bit worked best
@@nutzablaze3339 OK thanks for that.. I live in San Diego, and it is amazing that you have 50 people that will install New Windows, but yet to find someone who will fix or even replace the glass. I just need to keep calling around.. My windows are 11 years old, spent a lot to install them, so they need new glass. Fogging up after 11 years, 1 year out of warranty. We have had a lot of rain this year, almost every week, but heading into some 80 degree weather and no rain later this week, so hopefully the moisture will evaporate as the south facing windows get that hot sun.. Time will tell...
@@myradiovideos I have 6, 4x8' , 300# thermos that started leaking, I had no choice but to fix, they are also 30' feet up and would need a small crane to remove and replace.. good luck
So, if you notice the moisture before it has built up gunk inside then all you really need to do is make the hole so the moisture won't build up anymore?
Depending on your climate, that may be all you need. I'm in a humid area, so I wound up getting intense fogging after rain on the glass after a warm day. Eventually I dried it again and sealed the holes on a cool dry day. So far so good, very minor fogging on extremely cold mornings. Probably will need to do it again in a few years, but it doesn't take long.
@@slkfjariao I'm the author. I didn't bury the answer, I simply continued to experiment and wanted to share the results. TH-cam does not allow me to modify the video, so comments seemed like the right place. At this time (a year later), I once again opened the holes and the window has been clear for months. Your mileage may vary. Good luck. Not everyone has ill intent.
@@akomakomakomany chance your humid climate is coastal Georgia? We would have a similar problem, so this is good to know before attempting.
One idea, I’ve seen other TH-camrs ‘pin’ a comment so it shows up at the top of all comments. A summary of your additional hacks and experience would be very helpful in the mean time of republishing a second video. Thanks again for your help!!
I use a little aquarium pump drawing the air through a container of desicc. You can improve
the initial solution greatly with a small amt of hydroflouric acid , if you can find it (very dangerous)
I think you meant hydrochloric acid. It is commonly used to clean glassware in laboratories. A mild solution of this will be less concentrated than the acid in your stomach. Not dangerous if used carefully and properly rinsed after use.
Hydroflouric acid is used to etch glass, and will make the glass very cloudy as it dissolves the shiny surface and eats into it.
I know what hydroflouric is , used it for almost 50 yrs. I am talking about very diluted(2-3%) with water, it will do what I say, you are scaring people from trying it.@@cornelisspronk4068
where did you get 30 percent vinegar? (amazon is not an option here)
Home Depot. My store had a bottle on the shelf. They usually don't stock this but it can be special ordered.
Note that I diluted it down to 10%
Can you come do my windows since you already made the gadget? 🥰😜
So what stops condensation from building from the holes you created in order to clean the panels? Thanks
Nothing. I already had condensation, so I wasn't overly concerned. That said, the bigger the openings you make, the quicker moisture will enter and also the quicker it will leave. The window seals failed, so the best I can do is make it clear as much of the time as possible. I'll need to make a video about some hacks I came up with.
@@akomakomakomyes, please share any additional hacks. I’ll check out your channel in case you’ve already made an additional video. Thanks so very much!!
Exterior of our house was painted recently with a sprayer and we have paint drips between some of the window panes now. Think this method would work on getting exterior paint out? Maybe with a less diluted solution of vinegar?
That's really interesting. Paint made it through the window seals? How does that happen?
Off the top of my head I don't know of anything that will dissolve cured paint without residue and also will not damage the seals further. I suppose that paint thinner is worth a shot. There may be some risks. If you can get a strong enough liquid stream in there (without creating pressure and blowing up the window), you may be able to wash and scrub with the liquid jet. Good luck.
Yes, mid century windows versus 21st century paint sprayer :/
Excellent feedback, thank you. I was hoping just the denatured alcohol would be enough to cut the paint, then let it sit and use your method again to spray the loose paint with only water. Maybe it’s paint thinner then instead of denatured alc?
Will be a lot of trial and error but your video is a great start. Thank you again
I have aluminum viking duel pain windows, I don't see any vents like that window would they be some place else ? thanks .
On my windows, those are drain covers for rain water, and possibly condensation. Your windows may not have them. Removing the IGUs may be an option if they are small, or drilling the glass if it's not tempered. Good luck.
@@akomakomakom How can you determine if the glass is tempered?
@@dgervaz it is usually indicated on the glass. I included an example in the video. Your best bet is to Google that question for a more complete answer. Good luck!
1 really big problem , here in th uk 99% of glass units have a low e coating on the inside ,the cleaning solution you used would destroy it leaving the metal oxide coating looking like an oil slik and also halving the thermal efficiency of the window
Bummer!, never tried one with the low E or triple glazed ethier
so why won't it just fog up again?
Have you have to work on them again in the last 2 years?
I haven't. There is no new hazing that I've noticed. They sometimes fog up if the conditions are right, but clear up on their own.
Totally dependant on having Access to the Seal while the window is still in place. HOW !?? does one get any access to be able drill the hole though the METAL desicant block ????
As I recall, the video outlines these options:
1) Poke through a soft seal via the frame, as I did.
2) Drill through the exterior glass with a glass drill bit (non-tempered glass only). You can always seal it later with epoxy or install a small vent of some sort.
3) Remove the IGU and poke or drill from the side. With a large IGU like mine, you could partially pull out just one side (with adequate support or helpers), the glass unit flexed enough to allow this. With a small IGU, you might as well pull the whole thing out.
4) BONUS: If it's a removable pane (sash), drill through the window and seal at the same time, without removing the IGU. This could possibly work for sliding glass doors too.
Hope that helps.
does not sealing the hole not allow for more moisture to get back in and problem to reoccur?
Yes. However, the window seals are already letting moisture in, which is how the problem began. Therefore, hole or not, moisture will make it inside. Leaving the hole(s) open leaves a path for moisture to escape more quickly after condensing conditions, albeit gradually.
I realize the large window is out of the question but for smaller couldn't you remove and go top to bottom? Feed fluid (later air) from top hole - drain at bottom and when done run a thin bead of silicone around the exterior to reseal? Its a fair amount of work but IGU's are criminally expensive. (Coincidentally in my area the vinyl window companies seem to go out of business with regularity. No way to claim against the warranty.)
Hi, Can you use 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol Electronics Cleaner, in Aerosol can, with extension straw and no vinegar?
You can use absolutely anything you like as long as it does what you need it to do. If you have a hazy window that is the result of mineral deposits, alcohol is unlikely to do anything to clear that up. If you just want to rinse the inside surfaces of dust and would like the liquid to dry fairly quickly, then alcohol is a good candidate.
Wonder if there’s a way to use a vacuum pump to dry it out.
That might suck the two panes together and shatter the glass. Vacuum pressure is powerful aswell
Good point
I have the half oval could you start at the top
Probably, yes. I didn't because I was worried about water ingress, but it would probably be fine if done carefully.
Get right up in that glass with no safety glasses. A glass shop can replace the glass without removing the window. The fine aluminum coating on the inside has oxidixed and turned white.
Next change your oil with a hammer.
Bad day?
How’s it working out for you with corrosive vinegar!? Would be better to use isopropyl alcohol. Air compressor without drying column will just blow wet air back into the gap…🤷🏼♂️
Are you asking about long term effects of a corrosive cleaner on the interior space between panes? I have not seen any ill effects. The alcohol that is applied after vinegar thoroughly removes it. Alcohol by itself would not remove mineral deposits on the glass.
I also found no difference between using a plain air compressor and one with a water/air separator. Both worked great, however, like I said in the description, an aquarium air pump is much better and safer.
Good luck!
I want to drill through the side wood frame and through the seal. Put in liquids and shake removable window and frame. Then drain and dry. It will work. I'll let you know.
For the love a fvcking god don’t.
Did it work? Either you didn’t do it or it didn’t work…
@@ajlifesolutions7072 nope. Didn't do it yet. I offered to do it for my girlfriend and she said she would think about it and it sounded like a good idea but she never said to do it and i wasn't eager to volunteer. Thanks for responding. I was totally sincere with my comment. Good job.
@@frankconley7630 - Yeah, I’m not sure if it’s worth it to do a DIY job. I have a few that have popped so I need to enquire with an outfit that can do the drilling and inside cleaning. I don’t expect they will use vinegar though, but if it is then it better be weak solution.
Or if anyone has any ideas for a sliding glass door pane I would appreciate it!
I've never done a sliding glass door. Usually window units in doors are removable. If you can remove it, you can drill the (metal?) seal from the side. Let us know how it goes and good luck. Another thing worth considering is the cost of a replacement glass unit (it may be affordable), or even trying to find a used door of the same size.
@@akomakomakom
Thank you for the response, I watched another video where they drilled a hole through the side and was able to clean between the 2 glass panels or I’m gonna look at habitat for humanity store..I will keep you updated. Thanks again, for responding back!
Surely easier to remove thr remaining beads and then remove the unit, drill through the spacer bar at top and bottom of unit .
I live in a rental and my bathroom window has terrible disgusting steam streaks inside. I would love to replace it it's so ugly to look at and my bathroom never feels clean because of it.
Apply a frosted film !
Good fix on cleaning the inside up, however you did not address the failed seal that will allow this fogging to happen again.
You live with it. Now that it’s vented the condensation-evaporation cycles should greatly lessen.
Just please come to my apartment and do it… I’ll never be able to do it… 😢
not all windows have desiccant.
I'm not even sure if mine do. The seal has a grey layer and a black layer. The grey could be dessicant.
You should shortened it a bit . The first 7 min can be condense in 2 min
How about you pour in vinegar from a top hole and
let is sit for a while. Then punch a hole to let it drain
out. then refill with alcohol and let it sit then let that
drain out. Seems it would be easier than making the
spray contraptions and not very expensive.
If you can make that work, post a video, I'd like to see it.
You would effectively be making an aquarium, so you would need a fair amount of vinegar (and alcohol). This volume would apply considerable pressure to the glass panes. Exploding glass, anyone?
DON"T DO THIS - THE VINEGAR MESSED UP THE INSIDE OF MY WINDOW. It's way worse that when I started, now there is no saving the window.
Out of curiosity, what type of window? Was there an interior tint/low-e layer?
That’s why you let a contractor do it! 🤷🏼♂️
Well it was worth a try. you've lost nothing by trying it might have worked, you were looking at having to replace it to start with.
I dont think so. New window please.
I have single glazed windows so I don't have to do any of this.
Imagine cracking the glass with the 2x4 after all this work 😂
BREAK AND REMOVE ONE OF THE PANES. CLEAN AND NO MORE HASSLE
No it didn't
How many people exploded their windows using the compressor? Should come with a health warning!
Good question. I wish I had thought of using an aquarium air pump before I posted this video. Sadly, videos can't be changed. That said, I think it's perfectly safe when used correctly (needle smaller than both holes, very low pressure).
The seales have failed so any argon is gon if you have soft coat low e glass in your units it will now oxidise giving a stained apearence that cant be removed . The units will still fog up this is only a very temperory fix, buy new high quality units . Soft coat low e duel sealed units .
I didn’t know water vapor contains dissolved minerals.
I don't believe that it does. It does, however, condense onto surfaces where it can pick up minerals, then trickle down the glass pane, drying along the way and leaving the solids behind.
I believe it is dissolved sodium from the glass, essentially etching the glass.
Try using nitrogen to flush out the leftover alcohol
What's the goal?
@@akomakomakom no moisture
@@d5oper Does nitrogen work substantially better than air (from, say, an aquarium air pump) to justify the cost? We are dealing with failed IGU seals, so keeping moisture out is not an attainable goal. Keeping nitrogen in is also not going to happen. Moisture will enter, moisture will leave.
@@akomakomakom good point it would probably help with the initial wash and dry
Buy single pane glass!!! Problem solved!!!
Adding pressure within the plains can be dangerous. You never explained what pressures you were using in your sprayer or worst on your air compressor. And you dident explain how big your volcano is. Many window seals are a gummy caulk and if it's seals around your needle your pressurrising the window which can cause the glass to explode. Especially tempered glass! So if you do try this trick, besure to remove plenty of the seal to allow air to excape and not pressure rise the plains!
Great idea - EXCEPT... You literally made the problem worse. Now moisture can easily get in between the 2 pieces and will more frequently "fog". It's a fix but a very temporary fix. You should check with the original installer about warranty replacement first. Once you drill these holes - warranty void!
reasonable DIY proposal but does not look the least easy at all and cost is high if you don't own a compressor already and hand pump + all the rest. Also it is unclear how the rubber or whatever soft seal were removed if there are any. My windows has a medium soft white plastic seal on the frame that touches the glass that you would have to remove first. In this video he just pops out out the pane with a trowel. Then hammers it back in at the end. This makes no sense if there is a seal glued to both the frame and the window.
Minor clarifications to your interpretation of what you saw:
1) A compressor is not necessary. You can wait, or, as I point out in the linked Instructable, you can use an aquarium air pump (which is cheaper, better and safer).
2) The cost may be high depending on replacement cost of your IGUs. Mine is $500+ for one window, $2000 for the other. I spent
@@akomakomakom Exactly right about the type of window this method will work on. My IGU's are encased in vinyl framework but the actual replaceable IGU module uses aluminum 'framing' that's exposed to the internal environment. I'm concerned about the effect vinegar will have on the aluminum but heck, my foggy problem sashes are 20 years old so....
I saw tiny desiccant pellets on Amazon a while back but forgot to Save for Later but I plan on finding them again and putting a goodly amount in each window I revitalize.
Best instructional video I've seen on this subject so far. Well done!
BTW, somewhere on TH-cam there's a guy who shows step by step how to disassemble an IGU, clean the glass, add an anti-fog solution, and put it all back together again with fresh sealant. For the life of me I can't find it again!! If you get curious and find it would be kind enough to reply to this comment with the TH-cam link?
Thanks again for the tutorial!
@@gregoryking9348 th-cam.com/video/6gHhWzg-hcs/w-d-xo.html
Probably the most circumvented inefficient solution and very expensive (heat gun, many types of tubing, compressor, etc..) .
And what is your alternative?
@@brianbaker359 Just because the only currently proposed approach is poor and convoluted, it is not justified by the absence of alternative.
The about of time that took for the crappy mediocre result I could’ve put a new glass in about 15 minutes. I’d bet $1000 that window fogs up in the AM and PM.
You're quite right, it does, mostly near the bottom, then it clears up.
It's all relative. I couldn't see through the (big) window at all due to haze. Now I can.
Replacement for that IGU would be $1000-$2000, and it would take a bit more than 15 minutes because I'd need a lift and several men. For my time investment I got a window I can see through.
The narrow window that this video focused on is a $500 IGU and I can replace it myself, so that's less of a clear win.
Doable, but VERY fiddly.
Sealed unit have a 10yr warranty, yes you cleaned your foggy windows but it’ll always fog up and frost up. 😂
EXACTLY!🤣
Why do people such as yourself always have to mock?
Any window including your 10 year warranty will get dirty again inside or out. All windows have to be cleaned and recleaned.
Sorry, this was a "big deal" 15 years ago, originated in Canada, that died out when it failed to be effective. I was one of those idiots who bought a franchise business to do this. It does not work long term, usually did not work short term (may work in very dry climates.) I wish it did, but it doesn't. Look into "glass replacement" - which is where you simply replace the IGU (the two panes of glass sealed together) and not "window replacement" which is replacing the entire window frame and all.
It's still a big deal to me. My big IGU is worth >$1K. Labor is probably another $1K due to weight and location. My smaller IGU is worth $600 or so. After cleaning them 3 years ago, I went from "can't see through this window at all" to "occasionally fogs up and clears up on its own, mostly in the summer". For a total cost of
buy a new window the tools you use cost a fortune
Last time I checked, replacing the IGU in the large window is in the $2000 range. The small one is $500 or more. I spent less than $60 on everything including chemicals.
Feel free to buy a new window, but I'm happy with my choice.