Tip: It helps to become familiar with the standard glass window defogging process first. As a visual aid watch the videos of the previous four steps first.
The differences for defogging Patio Doors or tempered/toughened glass windows are where you drill the access holes and the equipment used. Most Patio Doors can be repaired right where they are installed. Tempered/toughened glass windows will need to be removed to expose at least one of the side spacer bars unless you are able to drill into the side spacer bars directly through the window frames.
5.1 Tip: DO NOT drill Patio Door or tempered/toughened glass. If you do the glass will shatter into tiny little pieces for safety reasons.
5.2 Tip: Drill parallel to the glass surfaces into the side window spacer bars. DO NOT try drilling at an angle to access the side spacer bars. Simply tapping the edge of the glass with a drill bit or any hard object will shatter the glass!
5.3 Attach the 1/8th inch HSS long reach drill bit onto any normal rotary drill if you are drilling through the Patio Door frame or a tempered/toughened glass frame. You can use a normal 1/8th inch drill bit if you have removed the tempered/toughened glass from its window frame.
5.4 Carefully proceed to drill roughly one inch above the bottom window spacer bar of the patio door or tempered/toughened glass parallel to the glass surfaces into the MIDDLE of the side spacer bar. There is no room for error here; if you touch the glass when drilling, it will shatter. You must end up with a small 1/8th inch hole drilled exactly into the MIDDLE of the side spacer bar roughly one inch above the bottom spacer bar.
5.5 Attach the 1/4 inch HSS long reach drill bit onto the rotary drill. Carefully proceed to drill out the previous hole without touching the glass.
5.6 Then do the same drilling process at the top of the Patio Door frame or tempered/toughened glass frame roughly one inch below the top window spacer bar.
5.7 Into the bottom hole insert the solution removal tubing with the attached primer. Gently push it in and maneuver it to reach the bottom spacer bar.
5.8 Straighten out the patio door (tempered glass) sprayer wand across a flat surface minimizing any bends in the sprayer wand.
5.9 Unscrew the small vinyl coated tip from the solution sprayer blow gun. (This is where you would normally screw in the 6 inch solution sprayer blow gun extension.) Then screw the patio door (tempered glass) sprayer wand firmly onto the solution sprayer blow gun.
5.10 Pour one gallon or 4 liters of the washing solution into the solution sprayer and pump up the solution sprayer.
5.11 Into the top hole, insert the patio door (tempered glass) sprayer wand and push it all the way in until it is touching the top corner.
5.12 Start spraying the washing solution onto the top of the window surface furthest from you so you can see what you are doing.
5.13 Slowly pull the wand across the top of the window ensuring the washing solution is treating the whole surface from top to bottom.
5.14 At the same time, squeeze the primer on the solution removal tubing to begin siphoning the washing solution from the window. Tip: Try not to let the solution build up too high (above the bottom hole) inside the window. Otherwise, some wood/vinyl/metal dust fragments and mineral deposits may adhere to the inside window surfaces as the washing solutions are removed from the unit. You basically want to WASH DOWN the inside surfaces of the window while at the same time removing them.
5.15 Now repeat spraying the washing solution onto the window surface closest to you. Both internal glass surfaces need to be treated.
5.16 After treating both surfaces and removing any remaining washing solution down to the bottom spacer bar of the unit, repeat the same process with the rinsing solution. Don’t worry if any of the washing solution remains on the window surfaces. The rinsing solution will flow over the glass surfaces evenly to remove any of the remaining washing solution and water droplets, assist in the drying process, and leave the window clean with no residue.
5.17 Tip: Rinse all the tools and equipment immediately after use with cold clean water. This will ensure that when it is stored properly out of any sunlight that all the equipment will work properly the next time when needed.
5.18 From the instructions above complete step 3. Sealing the Bottom Spacer Bar (Optional). Tip: Use the spacer bar desiccant sealer applicator with the tubing extension when applying through window frames and Patio Door frames.
5.19 From the instructions above complete step 4. Installing Venting Plugs. Tip: All Venting Plugs MUST vent to the outside. For the defogging process to work the window MUST vent to the outside air in order for it to dry out and stay dried out. Therefore, on Patio Door frames or tempered/toughened window frames where the vents/access holes do not access the outside air, additional 1/4 inch holes MUST be drilled from the outside of the frame to intersect with the holes accessing the inside of the thermal window. Finally, fit Venting Plugs into the additional 1/4 inch holes that were drilled, and fill with calking the part of the access holes which vent to the inside of the building.
Well done! If you read the Step by Step Instructions and followed the Tips on Do’s and Don’ts, your window will become totally clear again! Some windows will clear within a few hours, some within a few days, and some can take a couple of months. Variables like the time of year, size of the window, the direction it is facing, and your geographical location, all contribute to how quickly the window will completely clear and regain its original R-Value. The double paned window will now remain totally clear for years!
