crackling sound around windows

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villiagepeople

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for all you new home buyers, have you heard a slight crackling noise from your windows?  i've had the house for 8 months now and i think the sounds started just last month... at first i thought it was the "settling" from the construction going on around me but now there's no more construction and the sounds are still there.  i've narrowed it down to when the sun hit's my east facing windows when the sun comes out... i googled it, and there aren't many hits but one reason could be the flexing of the framing of the windows when the temperature changes, any thoughts? TIA.
 
Expansion and contraction due to plastic and it's gas seal. Once the seal is broken your windows will have condensation fog trapped in between the dual pane window. These windows are scientically calculated so the problems will appear a day after the warranty period. This is the disadvantage of vinyl windows.
 
Probably due to heat/cold expansion and contraction.  My home in Irvine had dual pane windows and the seals started failing after the home was 10-12years old.  When I bought it the inspector noted failed seals for some of the windows and I had the seller repair/replace them before I bought (damn expensive!).  During the years I owned it, if I saw any cracks in the exterior seal, I would caulk it before moisture got in so it would not get 'cloudy' between the panes.
The house I am in now is newer than the Irvine house but only has single pane windows.  I guess it is because I live in a coastal climate now maybe?  I don't qualify for the summer saver discount program run by the power company since I am listed as coastal.

That brings up a question, is dual pane windows now a building requirement or not?
 
Dual pane glass is not required if the wall and roof insulation is thicker to compensate a less energy efficient single pane glass. However the thicker insulation in the stud spacings and roof joist spacings would require a larger lumber size like 2x6s instead of 2x4s. Losing a total of 2" along the entire perimeter of a houses both levels which is around 360 lineal feet. Losing a total of 65sf by beefing up wall insulation thickness just to have a single pane glass is a huge revenue loss of $22,000 of sellable footage. Besides vinyl double glaze cost about the same as single glaze.
 
irvinehomeshopper said:
Expansion and contraction due to plastic and it's gas seal. Once the seal is broken your windows will have condensation fog trapped in between the dual pane window. These windows are scientically calculated so the problems will appear a day after the warranty period. This is the disadvantage of vinyl windows.
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Just an update, it was spacers that were improperly installed... took them a while to figure it out but it's fixed now.  (Luckily not a gas seal or  manufacturing defect.. but then again they were ready to replace the windows)
 
USCTrojanCPA said:
I heard there are or will be triple pane windows, is that true?
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In South part of Placentia old downtown district, KB homes built some new units along the railroad track.  With the windows closed you can hardly hear the train go by at all.  I seem to recall the sales lady muttering "triple pane windows" or something, but am not sure.
 
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