Pella Storms. Fogging

Residential
1

I had a house full of Pella Storms today. It took my a while to finish because I wanted the interior window side to fully dry out before re-installing the storms because they tend to fog up. A couple still fogged up and I had to open the window up again and take a fresh huck to them.

Squeegees don’t remove 100% of the moisture because glass is quite pourus. Does anyone add some form of alcohol to their solution to help with the moisture evaporation process?

Any other methods work to prevent fogging?

2

I usually try to dry the bottom of the frame on the unit as much as possible before I reinstall them to aid in minimizing the fogging. I always tell the customer up front when dealing w/ storms or removable panels (especially in the winter or summer) there will be some fogging that will dissipate over the next 24-48 hrs. It’s just part of the process.

3

I do the same as Tony with the fogging issue. If they are the older style pella with the rubber gasket on the take off I will use a huck and gently wipe the bottom inside of the gasket. Sometimes it will catch some water causing more of a fog issue. When possible if there are no children or dogs around I will wash inside and both sides of the storm window and then set the glass in front of where I took off the storm. Then go outside and wash the outsides. Come back in and put up all the storms. If I get a house with 40-60 of these when I do let them sit when I am cleaning the outside I will only get maybe one or two fogging up.

4

So I guess my method is alright then. Out of around 20+ I only had to open a couple. I had this happen last year and told the customer to call me if they were still foggy after a day or two to call me but they never did.

5

I do the same thing - tell them to call if they are still foggy after a day or two and I never have gotten a call.

6

That is all you can do with those types of windows. I even let the customers know that going in.

7

The moisture will leave on its own. The concept of Pella insulation is the outside air is always moving in and out between the glass. If you look on the sides of the frame when you have a Pella storm pulled apart you will see a small hole to the outside. It is always a good idea to clean these holes out with a pipe cleaner for your customer as insect stop up the holes sometimes.

8

i have the same problem, i found that it eventually clears and looks fine, i dont know of anything you can do to prevent, maybe someone else does?

9

I always let them set a while and do the outside. One other thing armor all works great to seal the rubber gasket. Just spray some on a rag and lightly rub it on the gasket. Seals great.
But as far as fog up it goes away with in hours.

10

As long as the moisture doesn’t “drip” or “run” down window, it will dry out just fine.
And yes, dry them well and wait as long as possible before re-installing.

11

What John Lee said is very important. Make sure the air vents (usually 4 per panel) are clear.

Another thing I do is squeegee toward the same side on both in and out. This directs the water toward the same corner. Then I tilt the panel so that more water drains out that corner, with a bathtowel under it of course. Sometimes I’ll prop a towel underneath the opposite end to let gravity drain it even more before I put it back in.

12

I noticed the holes but never thought much about them. Good tip to know, thanks.

13

I do the same as most here have mentioned(tilt window, dry the inside of gasket, etc.) but I replace them after I am finished detailing. I lock the bottoms and one of the tops allowing the condensation to escape thru the unlatched side as it builds throughout the day. The sun seems to help speed up this process and then before I leave I latch all the remaining top latches.

14

Most of the fogging issues I’ve had with Pella is if/when the frames are wood, then they fog like crazy. Many times (unless they’re high) I’ll leave the pellas open 'till the job is done and that typically helps quite a bit (especially if the sun is drying them out).

15

This is very common with Pella. I explain to the customer what they (the windows) might do before we clean the first window. Pella frames are hollow so when the “ports” on the side get clogged with insects, dirt, etc. they will fog up quick.

It is a good idea to clean those ports out regardless of this issue. Leaving them clogged up will cause the window to get hazy quicker in between. When I do up a whole house in and out and in between, I shouldnt have to do them in between again for 4-5 years. I get quite a few customers that are upset with Pella windows due to moisture buildup in between the panes (usually in the morning).

I was told by the Pella service manager in my area that this condition is due to the paint or stain that is between the insert(AKA storm window) and the main window. Worn, dried out paint or stain can cause the wood around the window to retain moisture. You will notice this more so in the morning or late afternoon.