General Chat

Does anyone have any idea how long a sealed double glazed unit should last before it fails . . . . that is it starts to mist up on the inside? We had all the windows in our property replaced 7 years ago and up to now we have had 5 replaced and at the moment there are another 8 or 9 need replacing. The local (and very reputable) company who did the work guarantee them for 5 years. I am in the process of putting a letter of complaint to them but I thought get a few thoughts first!

Wow, that's really poor workmanship.
I don't know how long they last, but ours are older than yours and we've no sign of 'misting'.
Do they seal the corners properly?
When ours were done an overseer chap came for a followup visit to check the work and ask if there was anything we could see wrong.
There was a very slight flaw in one bedroom pane. I mentioned this and it was soon replaced. My friend said I was too fussy, but it would have annoyed me every time I looked at it, once I'd noticed.

I think you have every right to complain, although not sure how you'll get on regarding their 5 year guarantee.
That seems very inadequate for such a big expense.

Gwyn

Our double glazing was put in before we moved here 17 years ago, it has only started to mist up very slightly in the last 3 years and only then on a couple of windows and not very badly. Our conservatory was put in 17 years ago and one of the large panes has been misted for the past 3 years.

When I had some done two years ago ( have moved since) I was given a ten year guarantee, so yes I think they should last longer.

Is the company FENSA registered? if so have a look here
http://www.fensa.co.uk/asp/trustmark_search.asp

"In addition, FENSA TrustMark offers a detailed service to assist any consumer who is having difficulties with a FENSA TrustMark registered firm. We can offer full assistance and impartial investigation in the event of any dispute not being resolved and can provide access to independent arbitration. "

Ours were guaranteed for 10 years. One of the units started to mist up before this time but the firm did replace it free of charge.

Kath. x

Many thanks folks for your feedback.

I will contact FENSA before I write a letter of complaint. Even if they agree to replace them at cost price I think it will cost around £200. We had replacement windows in our previous property for around 15 years and to the best of my knowledge we never had one replaced.

I would look to get ten years minimum and would be disappointed not to get fifteen.
Our first ones from Anglian were put in not long after we moved here in 1974 (say 1980) and are still intact.
Two of the panes in the extension c. 1990 (unknown make) have been replaced in the last few months, but started misting around a couple of years ago. Cost was £180 for the two, fitted.

Not sure if it is the same as here - the date window was manufactured is etched between the panes, so you can tell exactly how old the unit is.. My ex was a window salesman (worked for 3 different companies while we were together) and I absorbed a lot of info during that time. I am positive their guarantee was 15-20 years. I would not have paid that kind of money to install new windows if they were only going to last me 5 years. And in retrospect, I wouldn't have married the salesman either.
mary