Broken Window Seals: Identify and Solve Broken Window Seals

You’re sitting at home and all of a sudden you feel a draught coming from your window. On the surface your windows seem fine but little do you know, your window seals have potentially broken. 

It’s not always obvious when your window seals have broken and it’s not easy to know what to do when they do break. 

No need to worry, we are at hand to show you how to identify the warning signs that your  window seal has broken  and what you can do about it.

How to Spot A Broken Window Seal

Condensation on windows

No matter how much you wipe your window, the condensation won’t shift. 

When moisture and air gets trapped in between your window panes, it causes the window to condensate.

If the condensation is within the window panes, then this is a sign that your window seals have broken. On the other hand, if the condensation is on the outside of the glass, this is actually a sign that the windows are working normally, and is just part of the process of the air temperature and the temperature of the glass conflicting.

Draughty windows 

A broken window seal doesn’t only affect your windows appearance, it affects their ability to keep you warm. 

A windows main role is to keep the outside air out. So a window that lets the cold air in isn’t fit for purpose and is a clear sign that your window seals have broken, if there are no visible cracks to the window pane.

Distortion of the glass

You look through your window but the outside looks unusually distorted. This is a possible indicator that your window seals have broken. 

Modern day double glazed windows are divided by air gaps which are then sealed by a rubbery elastic sealant. This is known as an insulated glass unit (IGU). 

With an IGU that is filled with an inert gas, when the window seals break, allows the gas to leak out. This can cause the panes to cave in or possibly crack, causing a distortion in the glass. 

What To Do When Your Window Seals Break 

So, now you know what to look for when identifying a broken window seal, but what should your next steps be?

Check the warranty 

Safety first is the best route to take when purchasing a new window. 

Ensure that your new window is covered by warranty so that if things goes wrong, you are protected. 

So, if your window seal breaks, check your warranty and if you’re still covered call in the warranty and your window should be replaced or repaired, free of charge. 

Defogging the window 

Having your window defogged might be a temporary solution to resolve the damage to the appearance of your window. 

Defogging is a relatively new service provided by some window installation companies. Which involves drilling a small hole to the outer pane of glass and filling an agent solution between the panes of glass to reduce the condensation.

This process does not repair the window seal and they are still broken. Therefore, it is likely that the window will fog again.

Repair or replace the broken window seal 

If your pockets can’t quite stretch to an entire new window then having the broken window seals repaired is a credible option. 

Whilst the insulating capabilities of your window will not be fully restored, fixing the broken window seals is considerably cheaper than replacing the entire window

Replacement windows

As previously mentioned, replacing the entire window is the most expensive option but it is a sure-fire way of ensuring your windows insulating ability isn’t diminished. 

When having a new installed it is vital to choose an trusted installation professional. 

A faulty installed window is one of the most common causes for a broken window seal. Don’t compromise on quality – going for the cheapest is often a problem for the future.

In need of a window repair or replacement?

If you’re on the lookout for a competent, trusted local installer, the DGN is perfectly suited to show you window companies near you. Use our online window company search tool to find a local installer, or compare up to 3 local installers with our online window quote tool.