| In order to shed some light as to why it is important | | | | easy to wrap your head around. |
| to obtain a free home energy inspection, we | | | | Ask yourself this question: "If you live in a home |
| contacted the National Association of Home | | | | featuring thermopane glazing (i.e. two panes of glass |
| Inspectors, Inc. We spoke to Mallory Anderson, | | | | separated by dead air space) which require 'spacers' |
| Executive Director, who provided us with abundant | | | | that hold the glass panes apart and special seals |
| information regarding the inspection of windows. Her | | | | which prevent leakage into the dead air space - why |
| organization, in turn, relies on abundant information | | | | would you be experiencing fogging?" The answer is: |
| provided by others who have researched this topic. | | | | The quality of the spacers and the sealants |
| Today we are of the opinion that in many cases, it | | | | connecting the spacers to the windows most |
| would be wise for those homeowners who are | | | | frequently determine whether there will be a |
| unsure of the status of any portion of their home, | | | | premature failure in the "seal". This is clearly not an |
| but particularly their windows, to arrange for an | | | | answer that the average person would expect. |
| inspection. | | | | Even the presence or lack of glass coatings (Low-E) |
| We ran into numerous cases where a home | | | | can be detected and cast doubt on the buy-sell |
| inspection played a formidable role in unearthing | | | | transaction. |
| circumstances that either required immediate | | | | Other issues raised by home inspectors related to |
| attention or stood as an impediment to the sale of a | | | | the hardware of the window. If you have casement |
| home. In each of the previous case histories, this | | | | windows that crank in and out, there can often be a |
| was apparent. We also ran into numerous cases | | | | failure in the gear mechanism or the small crank. |
| where issues which were discovered by the home | | | | These quality impairments, when detected by a |
| inspector turned into situations requiring contingency | | | | home inspector, often lead to deal-breaking or |
| clauses in a purchasing contract or outright deal-killers. | | | | renegotiating. |
| The issue of fogging in a dual pane window came up | | | | Since the end of World War II, there have been |
| frequently. This fogging indicates that the | | | | over 1 million new homes built annually. As our |
| thermopane window has lost its seal, thus impairing | | | | economy grew and the desire for larger and more |
| its energy efficiency. Looking again at the third case | | | | spacious homes increased we developed houses with |
| history: Even when the inspector's report indicated | | | | a greater quantity of larger windows. As a natural |
| that only several windows had the "fogging" | | | | consequence, more square feet of glass was |
| condition, the potential buyer (or their advisor) felt | | | | developed, leading to increased vulnerability. Modern |
| that this indicated that the balance of the windows in | | | | technology has produced a higher quality window |
| the house might soon fail, thus requiring expenditures | | | | with many glass options, but that does not mean the |
| of several thousand dollars in repairs. | | | | person who was responsible for having your original |
| It is even more confounding that in many cases, | | | | windows installed understood or took advantage of |
| homeowners are not aware that fogging represents | | | | all these options. |
| a deficiency. In their defense, the concept is not | | | | |