Double glazing is an excellent investment for your home. It can increase the value of a property by making it more attractive to prospective buyers. Double glazing will also make a home more comfortable by helping to keep it warm and dry in the colder, wetter months. And finally, it can also help to bring down your energy bills by offering better insulation. There’s no doubt that double glazing is a wise investment for your home.
One of the main objections to double glazing is the issue of what to do when you have a broken pane. With single-glazing windows, it’s easy and cost-effective to replace a single pane of glass. However, with double glazing, the fix isn’t always as simple.
How to repair your double glazing
If you’ve had a mishap around your home and cracked a window, you must get this fixed. While it might only be one pane that is broken, the window becomes ineffective once it is no longer a sealed double pane. So, while the wind might not be whistling in, your windows won’t be as effective until you take the steps to fix the double-glazing pane.
You won’t be able to repair your double glazing yourself. You will need to call in a glazer to replace and reseal your windows. If there has been damage to the frame, this might also need to be replaced. First, you need to identify the type of fault and then you can take steps to put this right.
Identify the type of fault
The type of repair required will depend on the extent of the damage and the underlying cause. For example, the double glazing may have “blown”, which is simply when the seal between the two is faulty and this can lead to a buildup of moisture between the panes.
Your window might have a crack in the glass which might be in one or both panes of glass. Once one pane of glass is broken, the seal between them will be faulty, so it’s best to replace the entire pane to ensure your double glazing works efficiently.
Prevent further damage
If you have cracked one or more panes of glass, you can prevent further damage and injury by placing duct tape or masking tape on the broken glass. This can help to prevent the glass from splintering further and shattering completely. This is not a long-term fix, but it can help to prevent injury while you wait for a more permanent solution.
Can I replace just one pane?
The short answer is no, you can’t just replace one pane. While you might only have incurred damage to one pane of glass, it isn’t possible to just replace one half. This is because the panes are manufactured as a single, sealed unit. So, replacing one half would be impossible.
If you have a very small crack or chip in your window, you might be able to carry out a DIY repair at home. To do this, you’ll need an epoxy resin kit that will enable you to seal the crack and prevent it from spreading further. However, once the seal between the two windows has been broken, there is a high risk that you will soon see condensation between the panes.
Replace the pane or the frame?
Once you have identified the cause of the damage, you can then decide if you need to replace the pane or the whole frame. These are some of the things you should consider before choosing to replace the pane or the whole frame.
The age of your windows
Double-glazing windows are built to last around 20 years, so if your windows are approaching the end of their life, it might be time to consider replacing the entire frame. If you frequently have blown window frames and you’re tired of seeing condensation build up between the panes, it could be time for a replacement.
If your windows are quite new and are frequently misting up, you might want to check if they are still under warranty. There could be a manufacturing fault with the windows and you would therefore be entitled to a complete replacement free of charge.
If the windows have cracked as a result of an accident around the house, your warranty typically won’t cover this, but your home insurance might. Check with your policy to find out how much of the repair is covered.
The size of the window
Smaller windows will be cheaper to replace than larger windows. So if you have broken a small window, you might be more inclined to replace the entire unit to prevent further issues down the line. However, with a larger window, you might want to save money by just replacing the pane. That said, if there is damage to the window pane, you might have no choice but to replace the entire window.
How long does a window repair take?
The actual process of replacing or repairing a window is quite fast. When handed by a professional, you can be confident the entire process will take no more than a few hours. Things that could delay a repair would be issues such as sourcing an unusual size window pane.
Access might also be an issue, and windows located above conservatories are often the most difficult to access. In this case, it’s more likely that the repair will be completed from inside your home. This can avoid the need for scaffolding or other access measures.
Final thoughts
Whether you have a fault in your double glazing or the window has suffered a break, it’s important to take steps to repair it. Once one of the panes has suffered damage, the whole unit will be less effective in insulating your home. You might be able to prevent further damage by taping the pane or using a DIY epoxy resin kit to seal small cracks, but you will need to think about replacing the pane or the whole window frame in the long term.
