Found out the other day that a failed window seal isn’t always just about foggy glass—it can actually mess with your energy bills. Apparently, you can sometimes fix them yourself, but I’ve heard mixed results. Has anyone tried it and had it actually last more than a season?
Yeah, failed seals are sneakier than people think. It’s not just about the glass looking like a haunted house—your AC or heat can end up working overtime, and that bill creeps up before you even notice. I’ve patched up a couple seals myself, mostly on older double-pane windows in my place. Used one of those DIY kits with the syringe and sealant. Honestly, it worked... kind of. The fog cleared up for a while, and I felt like a genius for a whole summer. But by the next winter, the condensation was back, and I swear the drafts were worse.
I’ve seen folks get better results with newer windows, though. Sometimes the DIY fix will buy you a year or two, but it’s rarely a forever solution. If you’re handy and don’t mind rolling the dice, it’s worth a shot—just don’t expect miracles. And if you’re in a humid area like me, those seals seem to fail faster. Still, nothing wrong with giving it a go before shelling out for new glass.
Yeah, I tried the syringe kit thing a couple years back on my 90s-era windows. Felt like a mad scientist for a bit, but the fog came creeping back just in time for holiday guests. Honestly, it’s a decent bandaid if you don’t want to drop cash right away, but I wouldn’t call it a real fix. Especially in muggy weather—seems like the seals give up twice as fast here. Still, not the worst weekend project if you’re feeling stubborn.
That’s pretty much how it went for me, too. I followed the kit instructions step by step—drill, squirt, seal, cross fingers—but it only looked clear for a few months. Once summer hit, I started seeing that fog creep in again. Maybe if you’re in a dry climate it lasts longer? For me, the real fix ended up being swapping out the whole sash, but I get not wanting to spend the money straight away. If you’re handy and just need a quick improvement, it’s worth a shot... just don’t expect miracles.
Once summer hit, I started seeing that fog creep in again.
Yeah, swapping the sash is usually the “real” fix, but I get why folks want to try a repair first—some of those replacement quotes are brutal. I’ve seen a few DIY seal jobs hold up for a year or two, but honestly, it’s hit or miss. The kits can help with appearance for a while, but if moisture’s already inside, it’s tough to get it all out. Around here (humid summers), I’ve noticed the fog comes back faster. If you’re just looking to stretch things out before a full replacement, it’s not a terrible option, but I wouldn’t expect it to be a forever solution.
That’s been my experience too—tried one of those defogging kits on a couple windows and it looked better for a while, but the haze crept back once the humidity spiked. I guess if you just need to buy some time, it's fine, but long-term? Not really worth the hassle for me. I ended up just biting the bullet and swapping out the sash after a year.
Funny how those kits promise the world, huh? Quick fix for sure, but I’ve seen a lot of folks end up right where you did—shelling out for a new sash down the road. Ever try resealing the whole IGU instead, or was that just too much hassle?
I get what you’re saying, but honestly, resealing the IGU felt like overkill for me. I looked into it, and between tracking down the right sealant and the risk of screwing up the glass, it just seemed like a headache. Plus, not sure it really lasts much longer than those quick kits anyway. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just better to save up and swap out the whole unit when it finally gives up.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s just better to save up and swap out the whole unit when it finally gives up.
Honestly, that’s where I landed after staring at my fogged-up kitchen window for, like, a year. I kept telling myself I’d try one of those reseal kits, but the idea of prying apart double panes with my luck? That’s just asking for seven years of bad luck and a kitchen full of glass.
I get the appeal though—if you’re handy and brave (or stubborn), resealing could buy you some time. But in my case, I figured by the time I bought all the stuff and probably messed up at least one pane, I’d be halfway to the cost of a new IGU anyway. Plus, then there’s no more guessing if it’ll hold through another winter.
Anyone else feel like sometimes “DIY” is code for “spend your Saturday frustrated and covered in caulk”?