Dual Pane Window Glass Replacement

If there is haze or moisture between the panes and cleaning does nothing, the seal on the insulated unit has failed. That is not repairable, and it is not a reason to replace the whole window. We replace the glass unit and leave the frame in the wall.

Call (602) 777-3717, Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 5:00pm. Custom insulated units are fabricated here in Phoenix and come back in five to seven days.

What you are looking at

• Haze or fog between the panes that cleaning will not touch. Failed seal. The moisture is on the inner surfaces where nothing can reach it.
• Dust or a white film inside the unit. Same failure, further along. Once air moves in and out, it brings dust with it.
• One pane cracked, the other intact. The whole insulated unit is replaced. The two lites are sealed together and cannot be separated.
• Condensation on the room side of the glass. Not a seal failure. That is humidity in the room meeting cold glass, and the unit is doing its job.

Do you have a cracked dual pane window or has the seal failed between the double panes of glass causing moisture to fog the glass? Superior Replacement Windows provides dual pane window glass repair and replacement services for all types of PVC, aluminum and wooden window types. We custom cut the highest grade annealed and tempered glass used to assemble the insulated glass unit.

Despite being developed in the 1940s, dual pane window glass didn’t become mainstream in the Phoenix area until the 1980s. Most older homes in Maricopa County are built with single pane windows. Homeowners looking to save money on their energy bill and increase the value of their home remove their single pane windows and replace them with dual pane windows. Once installed, dual pane windows provide an energy efficient barrier between the extreme hot and cold temperatures of the Sonoran Desert. Double pane window glass, also known as insulated glass units (IGUs), can break or the glass seals can fail causing the windows to get foggy or collect dust on the inside of the two panes of glass. Once a single side of the dual pane window is cracked or the window seal fails, the entire dual pane glass unit needs to be replaced in order to restore the thermal performance of the window.

Measuring and Ordering Dual Pane Glass

The first step in replacing dual pane window glass is to properly measure the existing glass size so a new insulated glass unit can be custom made. If the thickness or outside dimension of the glass is not accurate, the dual pane glass will not fit in the window frame properly. One of our professionally trained glaziers will visit your home or office to take the exact measurements and determine the glass type, thickness, color and any low-e coatings that are needed to match other windows in the property. Although most sliding glass doors are standard sizes, the thickness of the glass can vary between manufacturers so it’s important to double check the measurements.

Once the glass specifications are determined, the unit is built to those measurements by one of several insulated glass fabricators here in Phoenix. The two lites are cut to size first, then a polyisobutylene primary seal is run between each lite and the spacer to keep moisture out and argon in, and a secondary seal of silicone or polyurethane is applied around the edge to bond the unit together. Argon fill is available for additional insulation. The units are made locally rather than shipped in, and a custom size comes back in five to seven days.

Installing Dual Pane Window and Door Glass

A glazier will deliver the new dual pane glass unit to your home to perform the installation. Most dual pane windows have some type of “stop” that securely holds the glass and snaps or screws into the frame. In the first step, the frame stop is removed to expose the glass edge. The second step is to remove the existing dual pane glass and clean the frame edge using an oscillating saw and chisel. Once the glass is removed and the frame surface is cleaned, sealing tape or structural silicone is applied to the frame surface to create a seal between the inside of the dual pane glass and the window frame. The dual pane glass unit is then set into the frame and the stops are mounted to secure the glass in the frame.

Low-E and Reflective Coatings

Low-E coatings are standard on most dual pane windows and act to reflect sunlight away from the house or commercial building before it reaches the inside pane. UV rays can fade furniture, damage artwork and break down carpeting prematurely. In addition to Low-E, we also offer bronze and gray coatings that act to filter out sunlight and also provide a level of privacy to the glass. The location of the window often dictates the coatings required. West and east facing windows take the harshest low-angle sun in a Phoenix summer and benefit most, though in this climate low-solar-gain coatings are worth having on every elevation. Windows in the front of the home may use a bronze coating for privacy and provide a modern look to the building. Bronze and gray coatings are popular for commercial buildings and retail storefront windows and glass doors.

Glass Types Used In Dual Pane Windows

Any glass type can be used to create a dual pane window, however, tempered glass must be used for doors and windows near a door or close to the floor. Annealed glass comes standard in dual pane windows and all of the coatings discussed can be applied for increased thermal performance. For sound resistance, a thicker piece of glass can be used on the interior pane for windows that are nearby roads or industrial areas. Obscure and patterned glass is commonly used for bathroom windows or where privacy is needed.

Dual Pane vs. Triple Pane Glass

To increase the insulation of a window, triple pane windows add another spacer and pane of glass to a dual pane unit. Against a comparable dual pane window that cuts conductive heat transfer by roughly 40 to 50%. The catch in Phoenix is that conducted heat is not the main problem here: most of the summer load arrives as solar radiation through the glass, which is controlled by the coating rather than by adding a third pane. Triple pane also costs more to buy and more to replace when a unit breaks or a seal fails. For most Valley homes the money goes further on a good low-solar-gain dual pane package.

How Much Does Double Pane Window Repair Cost?

The cost of dual pane window glass can greatly vary depending on the type and size of glass. The best way to get an accurate price quote is to contact Superior Replacement Windows and schedule a no obligation measurement by one of our dual pane window experts. Our location and contact information is listed below:

Our warranty

Glass and installation carry a lifetime limited warranty on our workmanship, for as long as you own the property.

Common questions

Can a foggy dual pane window be fixed without replacing the glass?

No. Services that drill and vent the unit clear the visible haze for a while, but the seal is still broken and the fog returns. Replacing the insulated unit is the repair.

Do I have to replace the whole window?

Almost never. The frame is usually sound and stays in the wall. We cut out the failed unit and set a new one, so there is no stucco work and no interior patching.

Why do dual pane seals fail faster in Phoenix?

A west or south facing unit swings through a wide temperature range every day for most of the year. The sealant expands and contracts with it, and that daily cycling is what works it loose. Seals that would last decades in a mild climate fail here considerably sooner.

How long does a replacement insulated glass unit take?

Five to seven days for a custom size. They are fabricated here in Phoenix rather than shipped in, and the unit is built to the measurement a technician takes on site.

Is triple pane worth it in Phoenix?

For most Valley homes, no. A third pane cuts conducted heat, but most of the summer load here arrives as solar radiation through the glass, and that is controlled by the coating. The money usually goes further on a good low solar gain dual pane package.

Can you match the coating on my other windows?

Yes. The technician records the glass type, thickness, color and any Low-E coating at the measure so the replacement matches the rest of the property rather than standing out.

Who replaces dual pane window glass in Phoenix?

We do, and we have since 2010. Call (602) 777-3717 with the rough size of the opening and we can usually give you a figure on the phone.