Dirty Windows or Just Double-Paned Glass?

On occasion a window still looks murky even after it has been cleaned. But hold on a minute. The problem may be in the glass itself . . . Well, maybe not "in" the glass . . . Rather, the problem may lie between the panes of glass.

You see, the energy efficient windows in many homes are two panes of glass separated by a little space. Manufacturers remove some of the air between the panes or put an inert gas like argon or krypton between them and the energy efficiency of the window goes way up.

The problem arises if the seal on the panes in compromised. This lets in a bit of moisture. At first the window is still clear, but after a while it may get increasingly cloudy. The wetter conditions are the more moisture can collect between the panes. On occasion I've even seen a small amount of mold between the panes.

This sounds like a horror story, but most of the time a home or business will have very few affected windows, if any at all. So there is no reason to panic. If you do have an affected window and it becomes a big deal to you, simply have the window replaced.