how easy is it to break an old double-paned window?

[Anonymous]

We have windows that the seal has broken so they are opaque. One in my 14 year old's room is broken (one pane only so it still works as a window).

How angry should i be?
Did it break sort of on its own?
Did he do it?
His room is a mess so I can't figure out if he 'did' it. I see no evidence.

[Anonymous]

He's also away at camp so can't ask h im. I;'m about to give away all of his stuff. (well, hide it at least)

[Anonymous]

Who cares? He's away at camp and you're on the warpath about whether or not he cracked an old-ass window seal? Learn to prioritize and chill.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused about if you mean the seal is broken or the actual window is broken. My house is 30 years old and the seal on two windows is broken. The home inspector when we bought the house said that the windows are still functional and won't cause any issues, but that they are just not as insulating as well as they obviously would have with the gas between the two panes. If it's the seal that is broken in your son's room, it's likely just that the windows are old and not that he did something to break it. Now if the actual window is broken, that's a whole different story and I would look into getting it replaced.

[Anonymous]

One, OP. He didn’t break it. This is a very normal thing that happens as windows age.

[Anonymous]

Double pane windows can't be that old although I'm speaking as someone who only owned pre war houses.

The double paned windows have a much shorter life span than the older single paned windows and this is one reason.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the helpful response. The seal broke awhile ago in two bedrooms. One of the two panes is broken in his room. Some of the glass fell into the room and some fell between the two panes making me think that even a small tap might have broken the pane.

Anyway, we will replace that one and the others with the broken seal incase the windows are indeed now more fragile than we'd expect.

I think they were installed in 1994. The house is old but mostly redone in the 90s.

[Anonymous]

You shouldn't be angry at all. It happens. Even if your kid did something to make it happen, you shouldn't leap to anger....accidents happen too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thanks for the helpful response. The seal broke awhile ago in two bedrooms. One of the two panes is broken in his room. Some of the glass fell into the room and some fell between the two panes making me think that even a small tap might have broken the pane.

Anyway, we will replace that one and the others with the broken seal incase the windows are indeed now more fragile than we'd expect.

I think they were installed in 1994. The house is old but mostly redone in the 90s.

The windows are 20 years old, they are due to be replaced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:thanks for the helpful response. The seal broke awhile ago in two bedrooms. One of the two panes is broken in his room. Some of the glass fell into the room and some fell between the two panes making me think that even a small tap might have broken the pane.

Anyway, we will replace that one and the others with the broken seal incase the windows are indeed now more fragile than we'd expect.

I think they were installed in 1994. The house is old but mostly redone in the 90s.

The windows are 20 years old, they are due to be replaced.

30.

[Anonymous]

Geez, you have anger issues. It’s an old window.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids is in a bedroom with a broken window seal and he has not broken it (this is a very active 6 year old). So probably your kid threw something at the window and it broke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:thanks for the helpful response. The seal broke awhile ago in two bedrooms. One of the two panes is broken in his room. Some of the glass fell into the room and some fell between the two panes making me think that even a small tap might have broken the pane.

Anyway, we will replace that one and the others with the broken seal incase the windows are indeed now more fragile than we'd expect.

I think they were installed in 1994. The house is old but mostly redone in the 90s.

The windows are 20 years old, they are due to be replaced.

30.

Modern windows have a 20 to 30 year life span. Old original windows will last centuries with care. It's a real shame people are ripping out old windows for the short term benefit of new windows because they think it's cheaper than restoring old windows. They don't realize you have to do it every 20-30 years. And they can't be recycled either!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:thanks for the helpful response. The seal broke awhile ago in two bedrooms. One of the two panes is broken in his room. Some of the glass fell into the room and some fell between the two panes making me think that even a small tap might have broken the pane.

Anyway, we will replace that one and the others with the broken seal incase the windows are indeed now more fragile than we'd expect.

I think they were installed in 1994. The house is old but mostly redone in the 90s.

The windows are 20 years old, they are due to be replaced.

30.

Modern windows have a 20 to 30 year life span. Old original windows will last centuries with care. It's a real shame people are ripping out old windows for the short term benefit of new windows because they think it's cheaper than restoring old windows. They don't realize you have to do it every 20-30 years. And they can't be recycled either!

I have restored many old windows. They need paint and putty every five years. They just aren't as good windows. The frames swell and contract with the seasons, they stick in the summer and rattle in their frames in the winter. The weights break all the time and it's a renovation project to fix them.

And the oft-repeated saw that with storm windows they're just as good as modern windows is a myth. Not even close.

[Anonymous]

They aren’t that old but every piece of glass has a weak spot and really not that hard to break. Just get the pane replaced not the whole window.