Hello. I am going through insurance/contractor nightmare! Everyone has something different to tell me...

We had a huge hail storm where I live, and it broke some of my windows - one bedroom and one basement window.

My contractors ordered me a vinyl window for the bedroom, and installed it. About 4 days afterwards, the temperature dropped to about -30.C and there was about an inch of ice buildup on the inside of the window, along the bottom and up the sides.

They say its because when it gets that cold, the humidity in my house is higher than outside, causing the moisture. Other window companies say thats not correct, as the ice shouldn't build up the sides of the window in humidity situations...

My contractor is sending someone to ensure the seal between the panes is good (no frost between panes), and then states if the seal is broken they will replace one pane... is this normal? Or should I be getting a whole new window, as this one is brand new???

Also, with the basement window, which is a vinyl window, they are only wanting to replace the broken pane (one half of the slider window), instead of replacing the entire window/frame - is this normal, or are they taking short cuts?

They are charging my insurance company a lot of money for these windows... when I asked him about it, he says that replacing the pane is almost as expensive as replacing the whole window - I find this hard to believe... (for example, the basement window was quoted at $650 to replace. It is from Home Depot, and the whole thing cost $120!)

By the way, they are getting $1650 to replace my bedroom window... this seems excessive.

Thank you so very, very much for any info you may have to offer me. I appreciate it so much.

 

In vinyl windows...it is normally easier to replace the sash (the part that moves and holds the glass) than just the glass IGU, if the manufacturer is known. Since you know who made it..its easy to call and get the info needed.

If you have the production label..its a simple matter of entering that on the order and specifying which sash.

btw...a "pane" is one piece of glass...I think what you mean is IGU...or insulated glass unit....which is 2 pieces of glass held in a frame and seperated by a sealed spacer.

Why would he want to replace the entire bedroom window?

Frost and icing are pretty common...normal fixes are to increase airflow and reduce humidity if excessive.

Kinda sounds like the guy is gouging the insurance company...

 

Thank you for your help.

So, it is okay to simply replace the pane, if only one piece of glass is broken, or the IGU, if both panes are broen, and not the entire window...

Now that I know that, I will let him do that, instead of replacing the whole window, but will talk to him about his over-priced quote.

Thanks again! GREATLY appreciated!

 

When I order the IGU (the half of the window that slides), how do I get it into the slider in the vinyl window frame?

 

No....if one pane of an IGU is broken...you replace the entire IGU. Its easier to just replace the entire sash in most cases.

Again....IGU is just the glass and spacer. It is held into the sash (the entire part that slides) normally by a sealant or mechanical means. Think of an IGU as the glass in your car door..and the sash as the entire door..including the glass. Not exact of course...but I hope it clears it up.

A sash will normally cost about 1/3-1/2 the cost of an entire window. Replacing a sash will not cure frost and ice. Neither will replacing the window if it is installed and functioning correctly.

 

Oh I see... the IGU includes only te two panes and spacer, NOT the vinyl trim around those panes... and then the IGU gets sealed into the vinyl trim.

Thank you for clarifying for me