Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: lee_dewing on March 11, 2014, 07:23:49 pm
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had two customers in the space of a week pointing the finger at me as they have a couple of blown/misty windows.
What's the briefest description to give a customer about this.
Had this when i first started wfp 8 yrs ago ::)roll
I just said that after 10 yrs when the guarantee runs out the window gets condensation in it.
Said that between the glass is a silver band and under this lies a silica powder which slowly degrades once gone then moisture starts to invade between the panes.
South facing panes usually go first as they get more direct sunlight and the varying temps on the glass eventually cause the problem.
Blah blah.
Don't want to say that wfp helps speed up the process as i have read some say.
Does anyone have a info sheet made up for this?
Seems my custies believed me but like to have the facts to hand.
By the way both custies blown units are 12 years + i know they can go a lot sooner due to bad instalation
ps.
Is it a vacuum in between the glass panes or a gas?
thanks lee.
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dont worry about it lee.you ve explained yourself.just leave it now. ;)
with all the wet weather we ve had this winter and varying temperatures do you really think WFP is to blame?
ive noticed quite a few blown units the last few days with the low sun.no customers have said anything though.12+ year old windows?its there problem mate!
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If they've lasted 12 years they should be chuffed to bits!!!
I've seen 'em go in 12 months!!
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Units blowing is caused by thermal stress and nothing else.
If the customer is in any way blaming wfp, then they best keep their windows out of the rain.
All double glazing in the end will blow.
An interesting article:
http://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/architects/glass-information/functions-of-glass/mechanicalfunctionsofglass/glass-and-thermal-stress
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I asked the question to a manufacturer who promptly explained that the channel of the upvc lets the water through and does not cause damage to the sealed glass unit.
the unit can breakdown an will depend on several factors.
These include temp and luck.
Each unit although built similarly, the materials are not 100% the same and this has cause and effect.
I have seen windows blown by the time the people are moving in months after construction.
I clean some that were fitted by anglia in the late 70% that are as mint as day 1. smaller gap in between glass.
New units use a much wider space between glass and the more gap the more likely the cheaper produced units will fail.
I sold the 1995 on anglia stuff fitted with pilkingtons glass which to be honest also I rarely see blown either. Now I would say that the upvc profile and channel may have more to do with failing than any of us realise.
Look yourselves and you will see a pattern.
I think as many blown on my trad as to wfp over the same amount of years.
You normally see if one has gone on a house they soon are followed.
You could get to network with someone who does unit recovery.
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I asked the question to a manufacturer who promptly explained that the channel of the upvc lets the water through and does not cause damage to the sealed glass unit.
the unit can breakdown an will depend on several factors.
These include temp and luck.
Each unit although built similarly, the materials are not 100% the same and this has cause and effect.
I have seen windows blown by the time the people are moving in months after construction.
I clean some that were fitted by anglia in the late 70% that are as mint as day 1. smaller gap in between glass.
New units use a much wider space between glass and the more gap the more likely the cheaper produced units will fail.
I sold the 1995 on anglia stuff fitted with pilkingtons glass which to be honest also I rarely see blown either. Now I would say that the upvc profile and channel may have more to do with failing than any of us realise.
Look yourselves and you will see a pattern.
I think as many blown on my trad as to wfp over the same amount of years.
You normally see if one has gone on a house they soon are followed.
You could get to network with someone who does unit recovery.
The double glazing was fitted to my flat around 1990. Not a single unit is blown. I guess there is luck of the draw and varying quality.
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had two customers in the space of a week pointing the finger at me as they have a couple of blown/misty windows.
What's the briefest description to give a customer about this.
Had this when i first started wfp 8 yrs ago ::)roll
I just said that after 10 yrs when the guarantee runs out the window gets condensation in it.
Said that between the glass is a silver band and under this lies a silica powder which slowly degrades once gone then moisture starts to invade between the panes.
South facing panes usually go first as they get more direct sunlight and the varying temps on the glass eventually cause the problem.
Blah blah.
Don't want to say that wfp helps speed up the process as i have read some say.
Does anyone have a info sheet made up for this?
Seems my custies believed me but like to have the facts to hand.
By the way both custies blown units are 12 years + i know they can go a lot sooner due to bad instalation
ps.
Is it a vacuum in between the glass panes or a gas?
thanks lee.
I think you have covered Lee one thing to add is say to custys if wfp is the cause then every single window i clean would have blown units .
I had a custy that had some new units go twice within 6 months and was adamant i was the cause i assume the window company was not happy having to replace twice under warranty and probs pointed the finger to me shame they never bothered to get all the silicone of the glass after 3 visits .
Needless to say i got dumped after 7 years ;D ;D . Mike
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my UPVC windows are 21 years old.not a single blown unit. ;)
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The reason a lot of people blame WFP for blown units is because the cold water on the glass causes the moisture trapped inside to condense on the outer sheet.
This makes the fogging and misting look far worse just after they have been cleaned until the glass warms up then you get less condensation.
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The reason a lot of people blame WFP for blown units is because the cold water on the glass causes the moisture trapped inside to condense on the outer sheet.
This makes the fogging and misting look far worse just after they have been cleaned until the glass warms up then you get less condensation.
+1
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This time of year seems to be the worst time for blown windows for sure. some older windows are externally glazed, does anyone have more problems with these types?
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Forgot to say thanks everyone and for links.
Make sure the liability insurance is up to date. ;D