By Jose Pelayo
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February 9, 2023
A homeowner may come to the window medic with a complaint about their windows. This could be due to poor performance, damage, or as part of an annual service visit. There are several window diagnostic tests that a window medic can undertake. Below are some types of window diagnostics undertaken by window medics. Windows Breakages The purpose of the breakages test is to confirm whether or not there are any faults with the windows themselves. This involves taking samples from both inner and outer panes of glass. The samples are then analyzed to see if they are tempered or laminated together. If there are faults within the pane itself, this will prevent it from fulfilling its role as a protective barrier against bad weather conditions. A blockage in the spacer bars would also be investigated during this process. A technician would undertake the breakages test by removing the spacer bars to see any visible signs of damage. Wind Damage The purpose of wind damage diagnosis is to check for defects within both moving parts and fixings. This can be caused by strong general winds or specific storms or hurricanes. Wind can affect windows leading to sandblasting, pitting, cracking, blistering, and peeling paintwork. It can also cause corrosion on metal components within windows, requiring further investigation. During this process, samples are from the inner pane of glass to check for damage caused by the wind. A technician will also check to see any blockages in the spacer bars. Thermal Analysis The thermal analysis aims to detect whether or not there are any overheating issues within a given area, such as around hinges and catches. This can be done using an infra-red camera mounted on a caddy that runs along the length of the window pane. It allows technicians to capture thermal images throughout its entire run. Samples taken before and after thermography will be used to identify any areas of concern. Gas Tightness Testing The purpose of this diagnosis is to check that the windows and doors sealed by the last tradesman have not been damaged and need resealing. This process involves technicians carefully sealing an area before checking on test equipment to see any leaks in the window system. Various methods can be used for gas tightness testing, including vacuum decay, nitrogen mass flux, pressure decay, or thermal imaging. Mechanical Fault Diagnosis The mechanical fault diagnosis investigates why a window has failed through various tests. This includes testing wind resistance, thermography, gas tightness testing, and other visual inspections. These processes are typically undertaken during the initial stages of construction to make necessary repairs before the building envelope has been permanently fixed in place. When a window has been identified as needing replacement, extensive investigation into why this is the case would require extensive investigation. A window medic will first need to diagnose the window and ask questions. Window medics use window diagnosis to understand the problems with the windows and develop effective solutions. The window medic will look at the condition of the window and suggest several solutions to rectify any problems.