Window Testing? ? what the heck?

Wen Myrick · 06-08-2007, 02:41 PM

Today I was asked how I test dual pane windows/ how do I tell if they are bad or not....

I told the agent I LOOK at them, If they are fogged they fail.
She told me another Inspector TAPS on them
If they don't have a particular "sound"
He fails them.

What the heck is that all about?

Anyone heard of such a thing?

~Wen~

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**Victor DaGraca** · 06-08-2007, 03:24 PM

I point my laser beam, infrared, non-contact thermometer at them and get a temperature variant reading of the ambient air temperature of the wall next to the window and the UV heat transfer properties of the dual glass, gas entrained window component. If the differential is less than two degrees, they pass.

Oh yeah.... I also look for "fogging"

**Bruce Breedlove** · 06-08-2007, 03:24 PM

Coming soon to a theatre near you . . . "The Window Whisperer".

**Rick Hurst** · 06-08-2007, 03:41 PM

Wen,

I've never heard of the tapping or the use of a laser gun.

I do know personally that if a window is suspect of a lost thermal seal you can hold a piece of ice against the glass panel for about a minute or two and then pull the ice away and you'll droplets in between the panes of glass.

If you see the droplets, it has a lost thermal seal.

Some of the window guys use dry ice for a quicker test I've seen.

**Jack Feldmann** · 06-08-2007, 03:54 PM

If you "tap" with a ball peen hammer - the window will fail.
JF

**Jerry McCarthy** · 06-08-2007, 04:07 PM

Every home inspector I know disclaims dual pane windows for the obvious reasons involved. Tapping on them is ridiculous and I'd rather see Jack's exam system used, the hammer test, failed under testing, to bad – so sorry!
We also installed it in the new CREIA SOPs; Part !!!, Limitations, Exceptions & Exclusions: #13 determining the integrity of hermetic seals at multi-pane glazing..