Replacement vinyl insulated window sash?

[Shirsiris]

In two of my insulated windows the lower sash has become foggy. I would like to replace just the lower sash. Does anyone know of a source for just the lower sash?
Thank you

[wharton]

There are hundreds of vinyl window manufacturers, and many make it very difficult to identify their products. The best way to handle this is to remove the entire sash and take it to a local glass shop. In most cases, there will be a glass shop in your area that can disassemble the sash, and either build or order a replacement insulated glass unit.

[TnAndy]

Yep....exactly what Wharton said, except I might say THOUSANDS of manufacturers instead of hundreds...... unless you know the manufacturer and they have a local outlet, a glass shop is your best bet.

The sash CAN NOT be repaired once they begin to leak because the caulk used to seal the units is a high temperature stuff ( like 350 degrees when applied ), and the aluminum spacer strip contains desicant beads that absorb any moisture between the glass at the time it is sealed....those will be soaked when the seal fails, and useless.

To remove the sash, raise it up about 1/2 way, let the sash out like you are going to clean it ( 90 degrees from it's normal position ), the push down on either the left or right side, and it should pop out of the "shoe" that is holding it in the track and attached to the spring system.

Then take it to a glass shop. They will measure the glass size, the glass thickness ( different companies use different sized spacers between glass panels ), and order you a new sealed unit.

Once you have that THICKNESS measurement ( it will be the same for all the windows you have of that brand ), you can measure future fogged units by simply adding 7/8" 1" to the visible glass on the sash (confirm this with the glass shop on the first sash you take in ), and order the units without taking sashes to the glass shop. ( Example: Visible glass measures 32 3/8" x 15 1/2".....glass size is 33 3/8" x 16 1/2" and is "X" thick).

You may still have to take the sash to the shop to get them to install it ( some are quite easy to install....others, not so much ), but that will save you one trip with sash in hand.

[Lookin4GoodLife]

Do you have any idea where the windows came from or were they just there when you got there? Sometimes when you take the sash out of a vinyl window, they have a manufacturer's label on the side. Many windows have a lifetime warranty on the glass seal and they may replace it for you if you can find the manufacturer. Some are just for the original purchaser and some are transferable. If you can't find a label anywhere, what they said.

[lillianhofstade]

Originally Posted by Shirsiris

In two of my insulated windows the lower sash has become foggy. I would like to replace just the lower sash. Does anyone know of a source for just the lower sash?
Thank you

Well according to me the most ideal approach to handle this is to remove the entire window and take that to glass shop in your neighborhood. Get a new frame built by them and replace them. You can also check here.