Finding Better Glass For Your Home

If you have older dual pane windows in your home, you may have a problem with condensation fogging up the inside space, blocking your view. If so, use the following guide to temporarily reduce the amount of moisture inside the panes. 

What You Will Need

Before you begin, gather the items below. Most items can be found in hardware stores and home and garden centers while the dental wax is available in the dental care section in pharmacies and grocery stores.

• Tube of silicone caulk
• Caulking gun
• Measuring tape
• Fine point marker
• Drill with pin-size bit
• Dental wax
• Two-inch wide plastic packaging tape

Directions

Once you have everything you need, follow the directions below to fix your window. 

1. Use the caulking gun to apply a thin layer of silicone caulk along the crevice where the window meets the frame. Do this on both sides. The caulk will fill any gaps that are letting moisture into the space between the panes.
2. With your measuring tape, measure two inches diagonally from each corner of the window panes on both sides, marking the spot with a dot. Do not place the mark below two inches from the edge, as the glass may crack at the weaker edge while you are drilling in the next step.
3. Using your drill, slowly apply pressure and drill a small hole where you marked the glass. These holes provide small vents in the glass that allow the moisture to escape when the sun shines on the glass and heats up the spaces.
4. If there is rain in the forecast, the holes need to be plugged so the water does not run between the panes of glass. To create a plug for each hole, pinch a piece of dental wax out of the can.
5. Roll the wax between your fingers until it forms a small ball.
6. Center the ball of wax over the hole, and press firmly until the space is filled.
7. Repeat steps four through six for all holes.
8. Once the weather clears, remove the plugs to let the condensation dissipate. Do this by applying a small piece of clear packing tape to the wax, pressing firmly on the center to adhere the two together.
9. Pull the tape off to remove the wax.

Using the above temporary repair can help clear up some of the condensation on the inside of your windows. However, if you want a more permanent solution, you may want to speak to a window service (such as Healy Anytime Glass Co) about your options for permanently repairing your dual pane windows.