Good morning everyone!

I´m a DIY-novice who is in need of repairing a crack on the interior pane of a double-glazed window. Picture is attached.

The crack was probably caused by a zipper repeatedly bashing against the window and I´m looking for a relatively foolproof way to sort the issue. Would using a windscreen repair fluid or similar work?

Thanks for the advice!

 

There is no repair the CBU (glass pane) is replaced as a single unit. The CBU can be purchased an any glass shop, the difficult part is figuring out what has to be taken apart with the window sash to allow it to be swapped.

Lots of youtube videos out there!

 

Its actually called an IGU which stands for insulated glass unit. It is (was) a sealed double pane unit and now that the glass has broken, it will get moisture between the glass. Your particular window looks like it will have stops on the outside that would need to be removed in order to get the unit out. Any glass shop can order it and install it for you if you don't want to DIY.

In the meantine, put clear tape over the crack so that you don't get glass splinters on the floor.

 

The crack has been there for a while, and the crack is on the inside so there is no moisture coming in or out. Also no shards or anything, just a strange crack.

Thanks for the advice! Is there no way epoxy or something would work?

 

You don't understand. The IGU is a sealed unit. This means no HUMIDITY (Which is moisture) can get between the panes. Any crack on either side of the glass compromises the sealed unit, causing the dessicant in the spacer to be overloaded by the humidity. It will eventually get foggy or stained between the glass.

The shards will come when you wash the glass. Any in and out movement of the glass will cause shards to pop off.

Use whatever you want. It needs to be replaced.

 

larasowa,

Can I ask where your home is located? Any chance that you have impact (hurricane) windows?

thanks

 

You CAN try fixing it. It hasn't fogged over YET, so there is apparently some moisture absorbing desiccant left between the panes.

The repair is running a bead of superglue along the crack to seal it and stabilize it, and HOPE that capillary forces will draw the superglue into the crack and seal it (like solder drawn into a solder joint). Another suggestion is apply GENTLE warmth to the glass with a hair dryer, then apply the super glue, then cool with a fan - idea being to create a slight pressure difference to pull the superglue into the crack.

Let the superglue dry over night, then use a razorblade to remove the surface superglue. You'll will probably still see the crack, but it MIGHT be stabilized, and MIGHT be airtight, and MIGHT last for awhile.

 

Or alternatively were they made by Alpen or Serious Windows?

I am asking because you might have a warranty claim.

 

Hi everyone, sorry for abandoning the thread- totally forgot, and thank you for the helpful advice.
I am located in the Netherlands and do not know the manufacturer of the windows

 

larasowa,

My questions were because of what appears to be crystallization below the crack in the photo that you sent.

Pictures can sometimes leave room for doubt and misinterpretation when used for determination of flaws, but I have seen very similar crystallization in the past from installed impact-rated windows caused by UV degradation and possibly water exposure when using a specific resin-based interlayer in the laminated glass panel. The (what appears to be) crystallization in your window is remarkably similar in appearance and location to what I saw in the past and that flaw was occasionally associated with broken glass as well.

I asked about Alpen and Serious because of their use of suspended film technology while using an IG spacer that looks very similar to the spacer used in your window - at least similar per photo interpretation. Looking at close ups of the apparent crystallization made me wonder if perhaps a suspended film could develop a similar looking flaw to the resin-laminated interlayer.

Knowing that you are in Europe I now believe that you have a more-or-less typical European aluminum box design spacer (although it still looks like the suspended film version). Certainly not 100% certain based only on a single photo, but probably most likely. However none of that explains the apparent crystallization which prompted my question in the first place.

Can you feel whatever it is if you touch the surface of the glass with your finger? Assuming that you don't have resin laminated glass or suspended film IG unit, then i am wondering if it may be sodium leaching...but that's kind of a stretch from what I can see.

 

Oberon, were you thinking maybe Heat Mirror? (Southwall/Eastman)? If so, larasowa could look for the tiny vent hole in the bottom corner of the film to verify.

 

XSleeper, I should have mentioned Heat Mirror upfront but I was thinking a homeowner might know the window company more than the product name. I should have said both.

Thanks for the follow up on that.

A little trivia, although Southwall really introduced suspended film commercially as Heat Mirror, Cardinal originally registered the patent on the concept but I don't know why they dropped the idea. Likely because they were concerned about longevity, but that's just a guess.