Water in Double Glass

[princepearl]

We are renovating a 1981 Excella II. The front curb side double pane picture window has around 2” of water between the panes at the bottom. I have never seen this before and my theory is that moisture has accumulated over the years from condensation. Has any else dealt with this? I know replacing the window unit from Airstream would be expensive. I’m wondering if the accumulated water can be drained somehow before mildew sets in. Any ideas? Thanks
larry@govintagetrailers

[NoResults]

Could you drill a small hole in the bottom to let the water out then reseal with a resin?


Dave

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by NoResults

Could you drill a small hole in the bottom to let the water out then reseal with a resin?


Dave

When I got my first Airstream, I stopped to talk to an owner standing outside an 80's Excella in his driveway. He told me a couple of things:

1. They all leak. (Off topic for this thread, but has served me well.)
2. He tried drilling a small hole at the bottom to deal with the water between the panes.

When he drilled the hole, he nicked the bottom of the inside pane and it shattered. Solved the condensation issue, but eliminated that double-pane.

I think about that whenever the condensation in my Excella bugs me. Of course, it's not a couple of inches deep.

[OTRA15]

Thermopane windows are assembled with a vacuum [or inert gas] between the two panes of glass. Once the seal is broken, allowing moisture inside, the correct fix is to replace the glass assembly in its entirety. Any other "solution" will be incomplete, and run the risk of breaking the glass, as already mentioned, or having water/condensation appear inside the panel, on and off forever.

Peter

[princepearl]

Thanks for your insight. It confirms what I expected.
1. Replace failed window unit. (Would replacement be any better?)
2. Replace with polypropylene.
3. Live with it.
Merry Christmas
larry@govintagetrailers

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by princepearl

Thanks for your insight. It confirms what I expected.
1. Replace failed window unit. (Would replacement be any better?)
2. Replace with polypropylene.
3. Live with it.
Merry Christmas
larry@govintagetrailers

I chose Number 3.

It was really easy, and has worked very well for me.

Merry Christmas to you too!

[Tom Nugler]

There's a number of threads posted around the forum dealing with this common problem. Do a search for one that is close to the type you have. Rebuilding can be a very involved process. Many just break out the inner glass and are done with it.
The windows in the '70s weren't true thermopane. Can't be certain on the '80s.
Drilling is a common method of draining the water, and is mentioned in my service manual, but doesn't address the cause. I had a water line inside one of the windows about an inch from the bottom.
After rebuilding the front curved windows on the Tradewind one side began to fog up again. As you suspected, it was condensing moisture from the inside air. The big trick will be finding the opening. I had needed to relocate 3 screws for the inner frame and didn't seal the old holes. Just enough to let inside air to be be sucked in and out by temperature changes. Four years after the resealing and it's still dry.

Good Luck,
Tom