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  1. #1
    Wen Myrick's Avatar
    Wen Myrick Guest

    Question Window Testing? ? what the heck?

    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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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
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    Default Re: Window Testing? ? what the heck?

    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"

    Critical Home Inspection Services
    www.Home2Spec.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Colorado Springs, CO
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    Default Re: Window Testing? ? what the heck?

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

    "Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
    Bruce Breedlove
    www.avaloninspection.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
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    Default Re: Window Testing? ? what the heck?

    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.


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Knoxville, TN
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    Default Re: Window Testing? ? what the heck?

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


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Healdsburg, CA
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    Cool Re: Window Testing? ? what the heck?

    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..

    Jerry McCarthy
    Building Code/ Construction Consultant

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Window Testing? ? what the heck?

    Quote Originally Posted by Wen Myrick View Post
    She told me another Inspector TAPS on them
    If they don't have a particular "sound"
    He fails them.
    Weelllll, OF COURSE ... if they sound like the Bee Gees, you fail them, but if they sound like the Beatles, they pass.

    Tap ... tap ... tap ... (listen closely) ... (sounds like 'We all live in a Yellow Submarine') ... Yep this one is okie dokie.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

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