Fog between the panes

Doing several openings? Count them with the free window inventory planner and send the list with one request.

What people call about

• A milky haze between the panes that comes and goes with the weather.
• Water droplets or a tide line inside the glass after rain or on humid mornings.
• A white mineral stain between the panes that no cleaner reaches.
• One window fogged in a row of otherwise clear ones, often on the sunniest side.
• A newly bought house where the inspector noted failed seals.

What happens on the visit

• The window's maker and series read from its label and the glass unit measured, including the thickness and the spacer.
• A new insulated glass unit ordered to match: the same laminated impact glass where the window is impact-rated.
• On the return visit the sash or glazing stops removed, the old unit lifted out, the new one set, glazed and sealed.
• Weep holes cleared and the sash checked so water drains and the window closes properly.
• Where several units have failed, a quote for doing them together, or for a complete window where the frame is also worn.

In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

South Florida's heat and humidity work insulated glass seals hard, and west-facing windows fail first. Replacing the glass unit in the existing frame keeps the window's approval where the same laminated glass goes back in, which the installer confirms from the label. A unit that has also lost its frame to corrosion is quoted as a full replacement with the approval and permit that needs.

Questions people ask

Can fog between the panes be cleaned?

No. The fog is inside a sealed unit. The only lasting fix is a new glass unit; drilling or venting the old one is not something an installer will quote.

Does a fogged window still protect against storms?

If it is an impact window, the laminated layer is still there; the fog is in the air space, not the laminate. It is worth replacing because the seal has failed and the view is gone, not because the rating has.

Will the new glass match the old windows?

The unit is ordered from the window's maker to the same size, glass and tint, so it matches as closely as the maker can supply.

Is a permit needed to replace the glass unit?

A like-for-like glass unit in the same frame generally is not permitted work. A full new window is. The installer will say which your window needs.

Why did only one window fog?

Seals fail one at a time, usually on the hottest side or where the unit was slightly stressed in the frame. Others of the same age may follow, which is why some owners replace a few together.

How long does the replacement take?

The glass is made to order, so there is a wait for the part; the fitting itself is usually a short visit. The installer gives you the timing with the quote.

Other window and door jobs

• Impact windows for the whole house
• Replace old windows before storm season
• Impact sliding glass doors
• Impact entry and French doors
• Cracked or shattered glass
• Window leaks when it rains
• Window won't lock, latch or stay open
• Condo impact windows
• Storefront impact glass

One Call Impact Windows arranges the visit; the installer does the work, pulls the permit and gives you the price.