Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

This rumor about insulating glass circulates regularly. It is inaccurate for several common-sense reasons. Insulating glass is manufactured as a sealed unit using a chemical desiccant incorporated into the spacer. As time passes, the seal can deteriorate, allowing moisture to seep in. Eventually the desiccant is saturated and the excess moisture appears as the fog in your windows. Why not open up the unit and remove the moisture? Several factors preclude such an approach. First, moisture trapped on glass actually etches the surface. Thus, even if the glass were scrubbed clean, a slight haze would remain. In addition, there is no reliable way to salvage or replace the desiccant outside of a professional shop, so any "refurbished" insulating glass would be likely to fog up again on some subsequent cold day. Finally, glass being what it is, it is all too easy to break a pane while trying to service a unit and, at that point, one has wasted any time invested in the project. Alternatively, Western Window Service installs replacement insulating glass in nearly all kinds of windows with a written ten (10) year warranty against fogging on clear units.

This rumor about insulating glass circulates regularly. It is inaccurate for several common-sense reasons. Insulating glass is manufactured as a sealed unit using a chemical desiccant incorporated into the spacer. As time passes, the seal can deteriorate, allowing moisture to seep in. Eventually the desiccant is saturated and the excess moisture appears as the fog in your windows. Why not open up the unit and remove the moisture? Several factors preclude such an approach. First, moisture trapped on glass actually etches the surface. Thus, even if the glass were scrubbed clean, a slight haze would remain. In addition, there is no reliable way to salvage or replace the desiccant outside of a professional shop, so any "refurbished" insulating glass would be likely to fog up again on some subsequent cold day. Finally, glass being what it is, it is all too easy to break a pane while trying to service a unit and, at that point, one has wasted any time invested in the project. Alternatively, Western Window Service installs replacement insulating glass in nearly all kinds of windows with a written ten (10) year warranty against fogging on clear units. .

The solution depends upon the surfaces involved. For aluminum components, we strongly recommend a silicone lubricant. Western Window Service offers a silicone spray specifically formulated for this purpose, but other silicon lubricants will also work. For wood-to-wood, wood-to-vinyl, and vinyl-to-vinyl contact surfaces, a paraffin wax lubricant should be used sparingly.

No! A staggering number of window manufacturers have come and gone over the years. We at Western Window Service strive to stock a wide array of current and 'obsolete' parts, but few things in the industry are "regular" or "standard." We custom make storm windows & doors, screens, and replacement sliding screen doors, and thus we can probably build something to fit your window/door openings if we might not have the exact replacement parts. Our parts department can help greatly, but only if you bring us (or send us) a sample of the items you are seeking ... even if your parts are broken. Window screens can be made to your sample or by measurement. Sliding screen doors turn out best when our expert service technicians measure and install window and door openings at your home or business site.

Replacement windows are not always the miracle depicted in advertising. When asked about window replacement, we emphasize questions of quality, service, and the length of time you plan to stay at your home or business site. The adage of "You get what you pay for" is usually accurate when it comes to the higher quality brand name windows. We try to gauge how well a window maker provides service and support after the sale, since the owner is likely to have to live with any mistakes for many years. All things being equal, some well-known manufacturer who has been around for many years is usually a better bet than "custom" windows from someone claiming to be "as good as" the name brands. Purchasing windows is a major investment and we urge owners to consider the amount of time it will take for a window investment to repay its worth in energy savings. If you are planning to stay in a home or business location for many years, then you have the potential to recoup your investment. If windows are not badly deteriorated, storm window additions, mechanical service, and other techniques regularly performed by Western Window Service make economic sense and allow you to make full use of (or upgrade) your existing windows. .