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From time to time, we all experience foggy windows. While it is annoying because it makes your house look bad, and you can’t see out your windows; the worst part is that there is nothing that you can do about it.
There is also nothing you can do to prevent it, so it is not your fault. The only thing you can do is learn how it happens and get your windows replaced once it starts happening.
Foggy Windows Come From Solar Pumping
Every day the sun comes out it heats the space between the two pieces of glass in a double-paned window. The heating up of this space causes the window to pressurize and pushes out the air that is present in small amounts through the window’s semi-permeable seal.
When the sun goes down, and the temperature decreases, the space in between the panes of glass that was heated up during the day is now cooled. The cooler air between the panes decreases the pressurization between the panes and allows small amounts of air to be pulled back in through the same semi-permeable seal.
This new air that is drawn back in contains little water molecules that get trapped in the window; which is what causes the foggy windows.
This whole cycle that happens from dawn to dusk is solar pumping and is something that happens just about every day to your windows.
The reason that fog does not develop on your windows every day is that there is a material call desiccant present between the window panes that soaks up these water molecules. It is only when this material is oversaturated from all the water it has soaked up that fog develops on your windows.
Foggy Windows Do Not Come From a Broken Seal
A major myth that has made it around is that foggy windows are from a seal in the window being broken. This seal myth is wrong for two reasons.
One, air and moisture are always going in and out of even the highest quality window.
Two, there is no such thing as a window that is sealed tight. If a window ever were to be “airtight” it would actually explode.
Repair or Replace Foggy Windows
There are repairs that can be done to foggy windows, which are best left to the professionals. But even after the time and money is spent on the repairs, it still doesn’t fix the saturated desiccant. The repairs may not even work if the window is severely damaged from the fogging.
It may just be easier, and cheaper in the long run, just to have your foggy windows replaced with new windows. Renewal by Andersen team members can provide you with answers to your questions. Schedule a free in-home estimate with us.