A room may start to feel colder. The windows may look cloudy. You might notice condensation trapped between the panes, or feel draughts around the frame. These are all common signs that the glazing may have failed.
Double glazing usually gives you warning signs when it is no longer performing as it should. The problem is that many homeowners do not realise what they are looking at until the issue has worsened.
A room may start to feel colder. The windows may look cloudy. You might notice condensation trapped between the panes, or feel draughts around the frame. These are all common signs that the glazing may have failed.
The important thing is this: failed double glazing does not always mean you need brand new windows.
This is one of the clearest signs of failure. If moisture is trapped inside the sealed unit, it usually means the seal has broken down and the glazing is no longer insulating properly.
This is often described as misted or blown double glazing.
If the glass no longer looks clear and the issue cannot be cleaned from the inside or outside, the problem may be within the unit itself. That is usually a sign that replacement is needed.
If the area around your windows feels noticeably colder, the glazing may not be performing as it should. A loss of insulation can make rooms less comfortable and put more pressure on your heating.
Any visible damage to the glass should be taken seriously. Even small chips or cracks can affect performance and may get worse over time.
Water between panes or visible streaking inside the unit can point to a failed seal. Once the sealed unit has broken down, it is unlikely to regain its original performance.
Not always, and this is where many homeowners end up spending more than they need to.
If the frame is still in good condition, it may only be the glass that needs replacing. In many cases, that is enough to restore the window’s performance without removing the whole unit.
That is the thinking behind Reglaze.
We do not believe in replacing what still works. If the frame can stay, we focus on upgrading the glass.
A glass-only upgrade is often the more practical option when the problem sits with the sealed unit rather than the frame itself.
It can mean:
For homeowners, that often makes far more sense than jumping straight to full new windows.
There is no fixed answer, because lifespan depends on the quality of the unit, how well it was installed and the conditions it has been exposed to over time.
Some double glazing lasts for decades. Some starts to fail much sooner. What matters most is not the age on paper, but how the glazing is actually performing now.
If your double glazing is showing signs of failure, the best next step is to find out what has actually gone wrong.
That means checking whether the issue is with the glass, the seal or the frame, rather than assuming the whole window has reached the end of the road. In many cases, the solution is more straightforward than homeowners expect.
If your windows are misting up, letting in draughts or showing signs of moisture between the panes, your double glazing may well need replacing.
That does not automatically mean replacing the whole window.
If the frames are still sound, a glass-only upgrade could be the simpler, smarter and more cost-effective way to bring your windows back up to standard.
