Dual pane windows

shpstw · 03-28-2011, 07:56 AM

Can some of you please weigh in on pros/cons of dual pane windows in a winebago? Thanks

John Hilley · 03-28-2011, 08:01 AM

Pro is insulating value - con - is that they tend to leak and loose their insulating value. When they leak they also fog up and get moisture on the inside. I just got a quote last week from Winnebago to replace the passenger window in my 2003 Adventurer, $1300 plus two hours labor. There are a couple of places that re do them however for a lot less money.

Doug Sage · 03-28-2011, 08:10 AM

Dual pane windows are worth it! They insulate much better which virtually stops condensation problems. It is cooler or warmer inside and quieter. You will be amazed at the difference it makes over single pane windows. I would not go back to single pane windows.

hoppers4 · 03-28-2011, 10:10 AM

Dual pane won't condensate near as quickly as the single pane. That statement gets validated every time I camp in cool weather. Windshield gathers a lot moisture while the other windows stay dry.
Dual pane are heavier, cost more, and are prone to interior leaks/fogging.

smlranger · 03-28-2011, 11:33 AM

After having two RV's with single pane windows and two Winnebago's with dual pane, I consider dual pane a must-have. Not negotiable

.

John Mo · 03-28-2011, 01:38 PM

Had dual panes that leaked on a Bounder. Have single panes on my Winnebago now. I haven't been able to tell a huge difference, but we don't camp in very cold weather much. Having had the headache of dual panes that leaked and not seeing a huge benefit from them, I'm happy to NOT have them. So the furnace runs a little more in cold weather... meh...

LVJ58 · 03-28-2011, 01:58 PM

John Hilley pretty well sums it up. We have the DP windows in our 11 year old coach. Early on we had some issues with inner seal creeping however, the window mfgr, Se-Gi replaced them under warranty. If most of your travels will be in areas of non extreme climates single pane would probably work OK

Good luck with your choice

Traps90 · 03-28-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smlranger

After having two RV's with single pane windows and two Winnebago's with dual pane, I consider dual pane a must-have. Not negotiable

.

x2
Although our experience has only been with trailers so far.

Trap

Beabop · 03-28-2011, 02:12 PM

Have never had any problems and wouldn't be w/o them.

Midniteoyl · 03-28-2011, 04:14 PM

The leak, in and of itself does not reduce its efficiency. The condensation does. There are easy ways to 'fix' them if they leak.

rlsims · 03-31-2011, 08:56 PM

We have a 2004 Horizon and would not go to a single pane. If yours are fogged I would recommend Sun Coast Designers in Hudson Fl. They do excellent work at a very reasonable price. They will clean and reseal all the windows in one frame for $250.00, but if they are unrepairable they will replace for about $25.00 per pane extra. Highly recommend these people. There phone number is 727-868-2773

Luv2go · 03-31-2011, 09:26 PM

After having single pane windows in two RV's we now have dual pane, and like many others, we would not go back. We camp in winter a lot, and while the windshield has lots of frost on the inside the dual pane windows do not. We have the Hehr brand windows and have not had any problems with sealing to date.

CJ7ole · 03-31-2011, 10:13 PM

I have a fogged passenger window, but if I had to do it again, I would stick with the dual pane windows.

kjburns · 03-31-2011, 11:09 PM

Dual pane windows have an R value in the 1.5 to 2.0 range. Single pane windows have an R value around 0.85. A 4" wall insulated with fiberglass batt insulation is roughly R19. The largest window on your MH is the windshield...single pane. We have dual pane windows on our current MH and had single pane windows on our last one. I don't see the noticeable difference, so I would chalk up the ringing endorsements to the placebo effect. The type of windows wouldn't be a major determinant for me if I was in the market.

chief02 · 03-31-2011, 11:24 PM

I have dual pane windows on my 5er and no winshield to subtract from the positive affect that the duals provide. Cooler in summer, warmer in winter, no inside condinsation dripping. I have had TT's without dual pane windows.They were always dripping in humdid cool weather. Regardless of the accual R rating they provide some thermal benifit and prevent interior condinsation

RVhauler · 03-31-2011, 11:47 PM

X2 with chief02. Had seal creep on a couple windows which were replaced by mfg of windows but did not lose gas in between the panes

Midniteoyl · 04-01-2011, 01:43 AM

Again, a dual pane does not have to have 'gas'. In fact, 99% of them only have plain 'ol air.

Typical window r-values. (This is with vinyl frames, aluminum are less)

Single Glass - 0.91
w/storm - 2.00

Double insulating glass
(3/16") air space - 1.61
(1/4" air space) - 1.69
(1/2" air space) - 2.04
(3/4" air space) - 2.38
(1/2" w/ Low-E 0.20) - 3.13
(w/ suspended film) - 2.77
(w/ 2 suspended films) - 3.85
(w/ suspended film and low-E) - 4.05

Triple insulating glass
(1/4" air spaces) - 2.56
(1/2" air spaces) - 3.23

Addition for tight fitting drapes or shades, or closed blinds - 0.29

John Mo · 04-01-2011, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlsims

We have a 2004 Horizon and would not go to a single pane. If yours are fogged I would recommend Sun Coast Designers in Hudson Fl. They do excellent work at a very reasonable price. They will clean and reseal all the windows in one frame for $250.00, but if they are unrepairable they will replace for about $25.00 per pane extra. Highly recommend these people. There phone number is 727-868-2773

That's the thing with me. I don't want the irritation. I'm sure there are lots of great folks who, like these in Florida, do great work at a shop that's nowhere near where I live.

DAN L · 04-01-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mo

That's the thing with me. I don't want the irritation. I'm sure there are lots of great folks who, like these in Florida, do great work at a shop that's nowhere near where I live.

JOHN,
where do you live? you can add this info to your avatar or signature block. there is a place in oregon that reportedly does a good job of fixing fogged double pane windows at a reasonable price.
my passenger side fwd window was fogged such that the lower part of the outside mirror was unusable.

i taped the whole inside glass with duct tape and taped a large trash bag to the bottom edge and broke out the inner pane with an automatic center punch in the lower corner. one hit and the whole inner pane of the window shattered. most of the glass came out in 1 piece. cleaning the inside seal area of small glass shards was a pita.

after cleaning, my dw installed black silicon caulking around the window.

the outer pane is not tinted but i can see my mirrors normally now. that is good enough for me.

i don't notice any difference in heating, cooling or defrosting with this window a single pane. it is right next to the large expanse of windshield.

http://www.daverootrvglassrepair.com/

John Mo · 04-01-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAN L

JOHN,
where do you live? you can add this info to your avatar or signature block. there is a place in oregon that reportedly does a good job of fixing fogged double pane windows at a reasonable price.
my passenger side fwd window was fogged such that the lower part of the outside mirror was unusable.

i taped the whole inside glass with duct tape and taped a large trash bag to the bottom edge and broke out the inner pane with an automatic center punch in the lower corner. one hit and the whole inner pane of the window shattered.

I'm in Kentucky. I broke a pane out on my Bounder to preserve the view in my rear view mirrors. PITA only begins to describe it.

I'm probably window hexed because one of my Winnebago's single pane windows broke -- as near as I can tell -- because of the vacuum created by opening a slide.