In 2007 I bought double pane windows and now I have 2 windows with broken glass seals. I didn't know anything about Low-e-glass and I want to make sure the glass I have is the same glass these companies are telling me they have for sale - yep it is the same but my flame is darker orange vs the lighter orange in the candle flame. Thanks for the video. BTW to replace a door panel and widow panel with grids $1800.
is there any way to check if window has Argon gas in between the panes? what was in 30-40 year old IGs in old aluminum frames? was it also Argon or something else?
When I hold my lighter up to the single-pane tempered glass, there's only a single reflection of one flame, the same color. Why would I not see at least a double-flame in the window?
The only reason I could see a Low E coating playing a role when it comes to film is an increased build up of heat due to a film being applied. Here in the UK, with the temperatures we get, film on Low E glass is fine. I would check if the glass has been toughened or not, as toughened glass can stand up to higher temperatures.
If the seal around the edge of the glass was broken, you could get water / condensation in the inside of the unit. You could also take the bead off the frame and physically check.
Not sure if it's accurate but I use a cube of ice out of the fridge. Hold it in a bit of towelling etc and hold it against the glass for one or two minutes. Any moisture in the air space will condense inside the glazing unit on the area in contact with the ice. You will have to check that the condensation is inside the unit and not on the outside. Wipe over the area with a paper towel etc. to check if the condensation is inside the cavity. Condensation will always form on the outside face of the glass and sometimes very rapdily, so don't confuse this with misting on the inside of the glass of a failed unit. You're only testing to zero degree centigrade of course whereas commercial testing at time of manufacture is around -40 to -60 degrees centigrade. All comments/criticisms will be greatly appreciated.
Great to know. Was told long ago.if u look at your windows w/ polarized sunglasses and u see dark blotches all over them, then that's low-e. Idk if that still holds. Had a local window company warranty my windows for seal leaks (fogging between the panes) and they claimed they repaired them all with (new) low-e glass so wanted to confirm that. I will be trying the flame test. Thanks for this informative video.
Any of the glass they replaced should have a greenish look from the outside, or even the interior. If your other glass was clear over clear glass panels, the LowE glass panels would stick out!
@American Window Concepts I have tried: it works just as well. Unfortunately, sometimes, neither method is usable. I have some windows that fail with the flame test, but by measuring them with an offocial tester, they are low-e coated. How can this be?
Inside or out, it does not matter. The colored flame will just be in a different location simply due to the reflection and location of the LowE coating.
As a window professional, please don't use this test . You will feel Low-E when the sun shines on your windows and you barely feel any heat. , this is not an accurate test as it relies on visual which is not accurate if your eyes are not at 100%. All manufacturers make Low-E as a standard.
Yeah ... But we need to know what surface they are on and no "window professionals" have ever made the brilliant decision to mark the damn windows so we can tell. (And it is important to know; because God forbid you touch the low e surface with something wrong and it gets destroyed (because half of it is garbage and for some reason not relegated to surfaces 2 and 3). So we are stuck using tricks; like the lighter trick.
In 2007 I bought double pane windows and now I have 2 windows with broken glass seals. I didn't know anything about Low-e-glass and I want to make sure the glass I have is the same glass these companies are telling me they have for sale - yep it is the same but my flame is darker orange vs the lighter orange in the candle flame. Thanks for the video. BTW to replace a door panel and widow panel with grids $1800.
Very helpful video. My flame has a greenish tint instead of burgundy. Any idea what that means?
is there any way to check if window has Argon gas in between the panes? what was in 30-40 year old IGs in old aluminum frames? was it also Argon or something else?
Great explanation! EDTM has so many great toys!!
Yes sir, they do!
When I hold my lighter up to the single-pane tempered glass, there's only a single reflection of one flame, the same color. Why would I not see at least a double-flame in the window?
If im installing film on a flat glass surface, how and why would knowing if there is low e coating play a role? Thank you in advance for any response.
The only reason I could see a Low E coating playing a role when it comes to film is an increased build up of heat due to a film being applied.
Here in the UK, with the temperatures we get, film on Low E glass is fine.
I would check if the glass has been toughened or not, as toughened glass can stand up to higher temperatures.
John : How can I tell if the seal between the 2 pieces of glass is intact or not?
If the seal around the edge of the glass was broken, you could get water / condensation in the inside of the unit.
You could also take the bead off the frame and physically check.
Not sure if it's accurate but I use a cube of ice out of the fridge. Hold it in a bit of towelling etc and hold it against the glass for one or two minutes. Any moisture in the air space will condense inside the glazing unit on the area in contact with the ice.
You will have to check that the condensation is inside the unit and not on the outside. Wipe over the area with a paper towel etc. to check if the condensation is inside the cavity. Condensation will always form on the outside face of the glass and sometimes very rapdily, so don't confuse this with misting on the inside of the glass of a failed unit.
You're only testing to zero degree centigrade of course whereas commercial testing at time of manufacture is around -40 to -60 degrees centigrade.
All comments/criticisms will be greatly appreciated.
Great to know. Was told long ago.if u look at your windows w/ polarized sunglasses and u see dark blotches all over them, then that's low-e. Idk if that still holds. Had a local window company warranty my windows for seal leaks (fogging between the panes) and they claimed they repaired them all with (new) low-e glass so wanted to confirm that. I will be trying the flame test. Thanks for this informative video.
Any of the glass they replaced should have a greenish look from the outside, or even the interior. If your other glass was clear over clear glass panels, the LowE glass panels would stick out!
How did they "repair" when I have to replace?
@@citticat2 They were under warranty and they fogged up (seals leaked) so I took them in and they replaced all the glass and seals.
Hope that helps
Cool! Thanks Bro!
This video is very useful, but I do not understand why to use a lighter instead of a mobile phone led flashlight?
I was taught with a lighter flame...but I wonder if that would work just as well...curious now.
@American Window Concepts I have tried: it works just as well. Unfortunately, sometimes, neither method is usable. I have some windows that fail with the flame test, but by measuring them with an offocial tester, they are low-e coated. How can this be?
Doesn't work from inside? Can see the diff colour flame from the outside..
Inside or out, it does not matter. The colored flame will just be in a different location simply due to the reflection and location of the LowE coating.
As a window professional, please don't use this test . You will feel Low-E when the sun shines on your windows and you barely feel any heat. , this is not an accurate test as it relies on visual which is not accurate if your eyes are not at 100%.
All manufacturers make Low-E as a standard.
Yeah ... But we need to know what surface they are on and no "window professionals" have ever made the brilliant decision to mark the damn windows so we can tell. (And it is important to know; because God forbid you touch the low e surface with something wrong and it gets destroyed (because half of it is garbage and for some reason not relegated to surfaces 2 and 3).
So we are stuck using tricks; like the lighter trick.