dtg Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Hi all Just noticed on the van (3 year old Bailey Bordeaux) that one of the windows has a small patch of misting in between the double glazing at the front, any ideas or will it evaporate as soon as we get some warmer weather? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Remove the little plastic plugs on a dry sunny day and wait for the internal misting to clear. Then replace plugs. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtg Posted February 16, 2005 Author Share Posted February 16, 2005 Thanks Brian, sounds so simple, i'll try it out when the weather is warmer. dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mr_sheens Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 NEVER EVER remove the bungs in windows, this makes the problem worse. windows do sometimes have condensation in them, but as long as they clear, its not a problem. if they dont clear, new windows are required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavrik Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 NEVER EVER remove the bungs in windows, this makes the problem worse. windows do sometimes have condensation in them, but as long as they clear, its not a problem. if they dont clear, new windows are required. 11696[/snapback] If the bungs aint meant to be removed. ..why are they there ???? I was always given to understand that if you get condesation, then remove the bungs until cleared ?? Can you please explain why you should never ever remove them ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mr_sheens Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 the bungs are there to regulate the amount of air circulating in the window. on warm days the windows expand slightly and this expells some of the air inside. again on cold days the windows will contract. that is what the bungs are there for, but the holes in them are very minor. its an old wives tail about taking the bungs out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Removing the bungs has worked for me in the past. Internal condensation is caused by too much humidity inside. Removing the bungs is the only way to release this. As I said previously, choose a dry sunny day, preferably with the sun shining on the affected window. Alternatively you can buy a new window at Mr_Sheens dealership, but its lots cheaper to remove the bungs. Don't forget to replace them later, otherwise it would allow moisture back in. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topazjazz Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 The Owners Handbook for my Sterling Eccles Topaz quotes the following. "As your caravan is double glazed you may occasionally get condensation inside the double glazing. This is particularly so in severe weather change (usually spring and autumn) and is easily cured in dry weather. 1) Remove the plastic plugs from the interior top of each window. 2) Leave unplugged for approx 1-4 hours until condensation has cleared." Hope this is of some help. ...Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tall Limey Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 What are the bungs for? When the windows are made the inner pane is cemented to the outer pane using a solvent adhesive. An air pipe is fed into one bung hole and an exit pipe is fed into the other and air is blown through in order to remove the solvent fumes produced during assembly. The fumes are collected centrally. If the fumes from the solvent are not removed the acrylic panes will crack all over. I used to run a caravan window factory and this is how we used to make them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick1949 Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 If you do remove the bungs don`t forget to stick a piece of cloth over the hole to stop any insects getting in,co`s they might not want to come out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mr_sheens Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 polyplastic who make the windows, advise not to remove the bungs. this is especially important if a window is still under the manufacturers warranty. if the bungs have been removed or damaged in any way, they may not honour the warranty on the window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brecon Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 I have an Abbey Vogue and the recommendations from them is that if there is condensation between the window panels, REMOVE the bungs for 4 hours (in dry weather, obviously) to allow the water vapour to disperse, then refit the bungs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank.A Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Remove the little plastic plugs on a dry sunny day and wait for the internal misting to clear. Then replace plugs. Brian 11683[/snapback] Hi Brian, This is the recommended method across the Swift Group,at least Swift,Abbey and Sterling. I wonder what other manufacturers advocate. It also states this in the Caravan Manual by John Wickersham. Common sense really. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 Frank, I looked in my Bailey handbook and there is nothing mentioned about windows. I doubt if they would change them under warranty if they steamed up. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechSteve Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 i have removed window bungs before to cure condensation problems with good results, you dont need a new window if the bungs are removed. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest john1215 Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 the bungs are there to regulate the amount of air circulating in the window. on warm days the windows expand slightly and this expells some of the air inside. again on cold days the windows will contract. that is what the bungs are there for, but the holes in them are very minor. its an old wives tail about taking the bungs out. 11702[/snapback] Surely, if you don't remove the bungs then on a warm day the air can't be expelled with the bung in, the bung will stop the air being expelled? If the bungs allow the expanded air to escape then they themselves can't be airtight so in that case. removing them can't be detrimental, can it??? john1215 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.b Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 The Owners Handbook for my Sterling Eccles Topaz quotes the following. "As your caravan is double glazed you may occasionally get condensation inside the double glazing. This is particularly so in severe weather change (usually spring and autumn) and is easily cured in dry weather. 1) Remove the plastic plugs from the interior top of each window. 2) Leave unplugged for approx 1-4 hours until condensation has cleared." Hope this is of some help. ...Paul 11704[/snapback] My book say's this as well Pete. Volvo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarletsfan Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 polyplastic who make the windows, advise not to remove the bungs. this is especially important if a window is still under the manufacturers warranty. if the bungs have been removed or damaged in any way, they may not honour the warranty on the window. 11708[/snapback] They would do, so that people have to go to the considerable expence of replacing windows. How could the manufacturer say it invalidates the warrantee, if it says to do it in thier manual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyBarbara Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 My friend has lost a bung from one of her windows. Does anyone know where you can get them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Phil Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 I'm not a technical expert - and I'm not in the trade - but my understanding of the double-glazed windows fitted on moderm caravans was, that after the two halves of the window had been bonded together, and all noxious fumes expelled, then the air was withdrwn in a sealed vacuum chamber - thus creating a vacuum within the sealed unit. The bungs are then fitted to prevent the ingress of moist, or any other kind of, air. The presence of condensation within the unit is an indication that one of the bungs sealing the unit has failed. Thus the vacuum has gone. Yes - to remove the condensation, you can remove the bungs on a warm day. But to effect a permanent solution the window has to go back to the factory, or a replacement purchased. No doubt I'm barking up the wrong tree. But that was told to me by a caravan dealer. "Yes, mate, just like the double glazed windows at home." Won't take long for some body to tell me. The other "cure" for windows with condensation between the two surfaces is "silica gel", which isn't a gel, but crystals that absorbe moisture. ATB You can not reason with an unreasonable person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Phil, Don't see how there can be a vacuum in the windows. The plastic is very flexible and if you did pull a vacuum I am sure the two panes would pull together. Ever seen what happens to a coke can when you pull a vacuum on it? However I am not an expert. ....... Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank.A Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Hi Phil and Brian, I don't claim to be an expert but have certainly had a fair amount of experience with differential pressures. You would never achieve a full vacuum in practice anyway and if you did you would have 14. 7psi acting on the surface of each side of the window. If the window was 20"x30" that is 600sq" x 14. 7 x 2. Even with a pressure diferential of 1psi that would be a loading of 1 x 600 x 2 = 1200lbf. I don't think caravan windows are that strong. The pressure inside must equal the pressure outside. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Phil Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 So, basically, the notion of "double glazed" caravan windows is a gimmick - not a practicality. The whole purpose of "doulble glazing" in a house is that the 'vacuum' inhibits the transfer of both sound and heat/cold. As in "vacuum flask". Now they're pretty thin, aren't they? Well, there you are then, never too old to learn something. Not really worth getting excited about whether it's OK to remove the bungs then. ATB You can not reason with an unreasonable person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank.A Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Double glazing is just that,two layers of glazing,sealed at the edges,there is no vacuum. The air or inert gas between the two layers has a lower emissivity than the material used to form the outer layers. Specially coated outer layers can reduce heat transfer even more. Here's one of many links:- http://www. greenhouse. gov. au/yourhome/technical/fs18a_2. htm The 'vacuun' flask is extremely strong because of its shape,similar in fact to a gas cylinder. The strongest shape is a sphere,the weakest is a flat sheet. You won't see any pressure vessels with flat sides. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Phil Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Just goes to prove you should never believe what "experts" tell you. Thanks for that Frank. ATVB You can not reason with an unreasonable person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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