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CLOC-AdminIt’s starting to turn cool here today and I found one of our insulated glass windows to have internal condensation, or water between the glass. It’s a small operating unit and hopefully I can replace without removing the whole window.I’ve written Donna at Hehr Windows to see one what they have for a glass warranty, and two to see about their hidden hinge design.
I’m retired from a major window company and we had a 20 years warranty. I know that the RV industry won’t have anything near that, but our last rig had a 3 years warranty, let hope.
Posted: 1:18 PM – Sep 22, 2013On the photo see how cloudy the bottom window is compared to how clear the upper section is.Posted: 1:39 PM – Sep 22, 2013Here is a link to thier warranty.http://www.hehrintl.com/pdf/HEHR%20WIND … RRANTY.pdf
It states one year. I had a window do the same thing when Carriage was still in business and Carriage sent me out a replacement. I had two more of the small shashes do the same thing out of warranty and successively fixed one of the two myself and will attempt to fix the other one. There are several companies out there that offer this service.
Posted: 2:17 PM – Sep 22, 2013Chip thanks, the small one that you fixed was it an operating one? If so how did you remove it from it’s hidden hinge?Our last fiver was a Forest River product and their glass supplier had a 3-year warranty. I had the large rear window go bad and they sent me a new one after about 2 ½ years. I had to install it myself, but I was glad to get the window.
Because I was in the window business for many years I know the reason for internal condensation is during the making of the glass not enough sealant was used to seal the glass, moist air get’s in and when it cools condense out after the drying agent in between the glass get saturated. I know they wouldn’t offer a 20 warranty like we did, because of the stress RV’s have on them, but one year is not much for what is considered most of the time to be a manufacturing error.
Well the good news it’s the smallest window in the trailer.
Posted: 2:19 PM – Sep 22, 2013Here’s a close up of the glass with the moister between the glass.Posted: 2:28 PM – Sep 22, 2013To remove the window you have to drill out the two rivets that hold the crank assembly in place and swing the window way out and lift it. I used a couple nuts and bolts to re install the crank. Here is an image of the window I fixed a year and half ago. You can see the screw heads where the rivets would be.
Chip
Posted: 2:31 PM – Sep 22, 2013Here is how I fixed the window.I removed the window from the opening. I carefully separated one half of the window from the seal. I cleaned the inside of one half of the window and used Gorilla glue per the instructions to re-attach the window and let it cure. You have to use a little moisture with the Gorilla glue. After that cured I carefully removed the other side of the glass and cleaned the inside and brought the window inside the A/C and let it dry real good. I then re-attached it with the Gorilla glue and let it dry. It has remained clear for over a year and a half. One of these days I’ll get to the other one but I cant see it because it’s behind my chairs in the back and you can hardly see it from the outside. I’m going to try using 3M 5200 next time instead of the gorilla glue but it has a much longer cure time.
Chip
Posted: 2:42 PM – Sep 22, 2013Friends of mine have replaced all of the lower, opening panes on their 2010 Carri. All were easy to replace without removing the window. Some of the new ones did not fit exactly and needed to have some of the metal frame filed to be able to close. Hehr did enclose a rather trivial instruction sheet with the windows.That’s about nine windows my firends replaced in less than three years. That does not speak well for the manufacturing process. I’ve been through this before with another RV window manufacturer and hence, opted to special order my Carrilite with single pane windows. Very glad I did.
Posted: 2:43 PM – Sep 22, 2013This is the sash I’m still having a problem with. I did this window first and didn’t take it all the way apart and the fix didn’t last long. I only tried to repair where it had separated. I will do it again the correct way next time and take it all the way apart or order a new one if the seal is too screwed up now. I also re did the weather strip between the glass and the window because the crank was pulling in too hard on the inside piece of glass causing it to separate in the first place. The trick here is not to crank them in too tight. The outside glass makes contact and the inside glass gets ripped from the outside glass if it’s cranked too tight.Chip
Posted: 2:53 PM – Sep 22, 2013I’m not sure how RV insulated glass is made, but the was we did it was fill the spacer used between the glass with desiccant, (drying agent) use silicone on the spacer to hold the glass together and to cover the outside edge with a special type of butyl that would keep water vapor from getting in.The silicone is a great adhesive but will allow water vapor to pass through; butyl is a great at keeping water vapor out, but not the best glue. Depending on the amount of water in the air the day the glass is made the desiccant will absorb it and keep it from condensing out.
On the other hand that’s how my company could offer a 20-year warranty. If you have found a solution that has worked for a couple of years that might be a great way to go.
As always Chip I like your problem solving ability.
Most years we travel through the Hill Country on our way to and from Arkansas and California, it would be great to meet up.
Posted: 3:04 PM – Sep 22, 2013Jim.
Thanks for the compliment and if you find yourself in the beautiful Texas hill country please stop on by as we would like to meet you as well. I figure what the heck on fixing the windows if I had to replace them anyways I would give it shot.Chip
Posted: 10:40 PM – Sep 22, 2013- Hehr 6400 VENT SECTION REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS.pdf (527.07 KiB)
- Vent window replacement instructions
While under the one year warranty, I replaced my vent window, and the large dining room window replace by the dealer. Hehr had sent me instructions on the vent, and indicated that Carriage was alloted 6 minutes to replace them. It took us about 30 minutes.
BW – this may be worthwhile adding to the Documents.
Rick
Posted: 7:10 AM – Sep 23, 2013As I said in an earlier post the root cause for internal condensation is manufacturing error. It seems that Hehr had some problems of either not using enough or allowing voids in the sealant when making some windows. Many of you have posted it’s the small vent windows that were going bad probably one production line.Posted: 8:07 AM – Sep 23, 2013falconhunter wrote:Here is how I fixed the window.I removed the window from the opening. I carefully separated one half of the window from the seal. I cleaned the inside of one half of the window and used Gorilla glue per the instructions to re-attach the window and let it cure. You have to use a little moisture with the Gorilla glue. After that cured I carefully removed the other side of the glass and cleaned the inside and brought the window inside the A/C and let it dry real good. I then re-attached it with the Gorilla glue and let it dry. It has remained clear for over a year and a half. One of these days I’ll get to the other one but I cant see it because it’s behind my chairs in the back and you can hardly see it from the outside. I’m going to try using 3M 5200 next time instead of the gorilla glue but it has a much longer cure time.
Chip
Golly Chip – I had no idea a guy could take the things apart and reseal them! What an awesome idea and a great process! Way to go!
John
Posted: 9:38 AM – Sep 23, 2013rwb_wl wrote:BW – this may be worthwhile adding to the Documents.
RickRick, Thanks for submitting the link. I’ve added it to our “Documents & Files” Section and to our “How To” Library.
B.W.
Posted: 1:38 PM – Sep 23, 2013I think the problem I had with three of the small vent windows was due to the foam weather strip between the window and the aluminum frame. The weather strip between the glass and the aluminum window frame isn’t thick enough and the crank was pulling in too hard on the inside piece of glass causing it to separate in the first place. I think this is why it’s mostly the small window that I read about failing.The trick here is not to crank them in too tight. When the window stops don’t turn it any extra. The outside glass makes contact with the fiberglass outer skin and the inside glass gets ripped from the outside glass if it’s cranked too tight. I have stood outside and had my wife crank the window and watched it many times and came to this conclusion. I’m guilty of over tightening the knob and I’m very careful when I crank them in now.Chip
Posted: 8:28 PM – Sep 26, 2013I got the following e-mail from Hehr, not sure what the price will be, but will keep you posted. With the number of vent windows that are leaking I think Hehr has or had a problem. It might help if those that have or had a problem with the venting units to drop them a note.“Attached is a floor plan of your unit, if you could note what window location and whether it is the stationary or vent, that would help. As, far as warranty, no there is no warranty. However, we will sell you replacements at a discount rate.
Thank you,
Tina M Johnson
Office Manager
Hehr International, Inc. – Indiana
P.O. Box 219
1101 N. Oak Rd.
Plymouth, Indiana 46563
Phone (574)935-5122 ext. 620
Fax (574)935-4824Posted: 9:00 PM – Sep 26, 2013Here is Tina’s e-mail address if you want to send her a message.
TJohnson@HEHRintl.comPosted: 7:36 PM – Oct 03, 2013I’ve sent several e-mails to Hehr Windows and not heard back, will keep trying. Did find this web site that I might also explore.Posted: 6:46 PM – Oct 08, 2013Maybe I missed something here. Hehr is saying that they do not warranty their glass, even for one year?No, they do have a one year warranty, our trailer is 2 1/2 years old.B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX
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