Home Improvement : Double-Pane Window Needs to Be Replaced

QUESTION: In 1990, we bought a new home with double-pane windows. I accidentally cracked the inner pane on one of the windows. This allowed moisture into the pane, causing fogging. I would like to know how to repair it. Two separate glass companies said it would cost several hundred dollars, but I’m skeptical. Can you help?

ANSWER: Unfortunately, there is no way to fix the pane. It must be replaced. It’s not as simple as removing one of the panes, replacing it with a new pane and then sealing it with a caulk gun. Double- and triple-glazed windows have an airtight seal between the panes. This is achieved under carefully controlled conditions at a factory, where the panes are cleaned and sealed together. It’s unlikely that a homeowner can duplicate this.

Sheathing on Roof Not Way to Unclog Gutter

Q: My house has standard aluminum gutters and downspouts. The gutters are constantly getting clogged. On a recent trip to New Hampshire, I noticed that practically none of the houses had gutters. Instead, they had what looked like sheathing extending up the roof for about three feet. Would you know the principle behind this system?

A: What you saw was not the solution to clogged gutters or keeping gutters clean. In the Snow Belt, many houses don’t have gutters because they contribute to ice damming or get torn loose by snow sliding off the roof.

The sheet-metal strip is slippery when wet and enables the snow at the lower edge of the roof to slide off easily, rather than build up into an ice dam, which can cause a backup of water under the shingles and into the house. The sheet metal is generally extended far enough up the roof to cover a point at least 12 inches inside the interior wall line of the building.

Flush Those Mineral Deposits Down Toilet

Q: Is there a way to remove rust and mineral deposits from a toilet?

A: The deposits have to be removed chemically. For instance, Sani-Flush, manufactured by Boyle Midway Inc., and commonly available at supermarkets, is quite effective in removing these stains.

For further information on any home problem, write to Popular Mechanics, Readers Service Bureau, 224 West 57th St., New York, N.Y. 10019.