Consumer Homes.

Question:

> How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

When I sold the house, they had been in about 7 years, and were still working fine. — Jack Gavin

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them?

They are ugly on the interior side. Looks like a storm window has been applied to the interior.

Response:

The space between a window and a storm window is not "sealed" either, but storm windows are reasonably efficient.  What efficiency do you want.  The Pella is very efficient at keeping the blinds clean and straight.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

We had these on a previous house. Not sure what the other posters mean about "failing", but we did have a bird strike with one of ours. Had to replace the outer (fixed) glass, a standard sort of glazing job. Blinds were slightly askew, but needed no parts. We found that adjusting the blinds via the little knob was a little tedious. Also had earwigs (via the vents) in between the glass panes on a few of the windows. Their crap would accumulate on the blinds. Removing the inner glass, removing and cleaning the blinds, and cleaning the inside of the outer pane is a LOT of work if you have a houseful of these things. Fortunately it was only about a once a year job. Overall we were happy, but due to their price, we didn’t use them again. On our next houses, we mostly sited the windows so that they didn’t need covering of any kind. Wayne www.ctaz.com/~wmbjk

Response:

> How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

We’ve had ours 6 years now with no failures. — Bill Seurer     Work: seurer AT us.ibm.com      Home: Bill AT seurer.net

Response:

While I don’t have any experience with them.  I have heard the big problem is when they fail, they are very expensive to replace.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them?

I put Pella casement windows and a Pella entry door, with the captive blinds, in the kitchen of my former house. There’s a gasket on the outdoor side of the inner glass, so it seals pretty well.  Aren’t there official energy efficiency ratings that take this into account? The blinds-under-glass were super! I went for low-E glass which put a bit of a yellow cast on the view through the window. Overall, I was very pleased with the Pella windows and door, which were pricey. — Jack Gavin

Response:

How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about > the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > I put Pella casement windows and a Pella entry door, with the captive > blinds, in the kitchen of my former house. > There’s a gasket on the outdoor side of the inner glass, so it seals pretty > well.  Aren’t there official energy efficiency ratings that take this into > account? > The blinds-under-glass were super! > I went for low-E glass which put a bit of a yellow cast on the view through > the window. > Overall, I was very pleased with the Pella windows and door, which were > pricey. > — > Jack Gavin

Response:

  We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is removable).   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us)   Thanks.

Response:

> How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

We’ve had ours 6 years now with no failures. — Bill Seurer     Work: seurer AT us.ibm.com      Home: Bill AT seurer.net

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

We had these on a previous house. Not sure what the other posters mean about "failing", but we did have a bird strike with one of ours. Had to replace the outer (fixed) glass, a standard sort of glazing job. Blinds were slightly askew, but needed no parts. We found that adjusting the blinds via the little knob was a little tedious. Also had earwigs (via the vents) in between the glass panes on a few of the windows. Their crap would accumulate on the blinds. Removing the inner glass, removing and cleaning the blinds, and cleaning the inside of the outer pane is a LOT of work if you have a houseful of these things. Fortunately it was only about a once a year job. Overall we were happy, but due to their price, we didn’t use them again. On our next houses, we mostly sited the windows so that they didn’t need covering of any kind. Wayne www.ctaz.com/~wmbjk

Response:

I’ve had 4 windows, and two sliding doors with the blinds inside.  We like them and haven’t had any trouble except for a broken handle on the sliding screen door. John

Response:

> How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

When I sold the house, they had been in about 7 years, and were still working fine. — Jack Gavin

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them?

They are ugly on the interior side. Looks like a storm window has been applied to the interior.

Response:

The space between a window and a storm window is not "sealed" either, but storm windows are reasonably efficient.  What efficiency do you want.  The Pella is very efficient at keeping the blinds clean and straight.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

Response:

  We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is removable).   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us)   Thanks.

Response:

While I don’t have any experience with them.  I have heard the big problem is when they fail, they are very expensive to replace.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them?

I put Pella casement windows and a Pella entry door, with the captive blinds, in the kitchen of my former house. There’s a gasket on the outdoor side of the inner glass, so it seals pretty well.  Aren’t there official energy efficiency ratings that take this into account? The blinds-under-glass were super! I went for low-E glass which put a bit of a yellow cast on the view through the window. Overall, I was very pleased with the Pella windows and door, which were pricey. — Jack Gavin

Response:

I’ve got a few windows with them (vertical casements) in my house.  I didn’t put them in–they were already here when I bought the place. I hate them.  I don’t know about the efficiency, although they seem airtight.  What I hate is that they block so much light from coming in the house.  Even with those blinds open all the way, the light is substantially reduced. Someday I’ll remove them for good. ben

Response:

How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about > the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > I put Pella casement windows and a Pella entry door, with the captive > blinds, in the kitchen of my former house. > There’s a gasket on the outdoor side of the inner glass, so it seals pretty > well.  Aren’t there official energy efficiency ratings that take this into > account? > The blinds-under-glass were super! > I went for low-E glass which put a bit of a yellow cast on the view through > the window. > Overall, I was very pleased with the Pella windows and door, which were > pricey. > — > Jack Gavin

Response:

> How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

We’ve had ours 6 years now with no failures. — Bill Seurer     Work: seurer AT us.ibm.com      Home: Bill AT seurer.net

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

We had these on a previous house. Not sure what the other posters mean about "failing", but we did have a bird strike with one of ours. Had to replace the outer (fixed) glass, a standard sort of glazing job. Blinds were slightly askew, but needed no parts. We found that adjusting the blinds via the little knob was a little tedious. Also had earwigs (via the vents) in between the glass panes on a few of the windows. Their crap would accumulate on the blinds. Removing the inner glass, removing and cleaning the blinds, and cleaning the inside of the outer pane is a LOT of work if you have a houseful of these things. Fortunately it was only about a once a year job. Overall we were happy, but due to their price, we didn’t use them again. On our next houses, we mostly sited the windows so that they didn’t need covering of any kind. Wayne www.ctaz.com/~wmbjk

Response:

I’ve had 4 windows, and two sliding doors with the blinds inside.  We like them and haven’t had any trouble except for a broken handle on the sliding screen door. John

Response:

> How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

When I sold the house, they had been in about 7 years, and were still working fine. — Jack Gavin

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them?

They are ugly on the interior side. Looks like a storm window has been applied to the interior.

Response:

The space between a window and a storm window is not "sealed" either, but storm windows are reasonably efficient.  What efficiency do you want.  The Pella is very efficient at keeping the blinds clean and straight.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

Response:

  We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is removable).   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us)   Thanks.

Response:

While I don’t have any experience with them.  I have heard the big problem is when they fail, they are very expensive to replace.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > (the Smartsash III with 3 panes of glass is not an option for us) >   Thanks.

Response:

>   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them?

I put Pella casement windows and a Pella entry door, with the captive blinds, in the kitchen of my former house. There’s a gasket on the outdoor side of the inner glass, so it seals pretty well.  Aren’t there official energy efficiency ratings that take this into account? The blinds-under-glass were super! I went for low-E glass which put a bit of a yellow cast on the view through the window. Overall, I was very pleased with the Pella windows and door, which were pricey. — Jack Gavin

Response:

I’ve got a few windows with them (vertical casements) in my house.  I didn’t put them in–they were already here when I bought the place. I hate them.  I don’t know about the efficiency, although they seem airtight.  What I hate is that they block so much light from coming in the house.  Even with those blinds open all the way, the light is substantially reduced. Someday I’ll remove them for good. ben

Response:

How long have you had them? I keep hearing they fail all the time.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   We are building a new house and are consider Pella double hung and > casement windows with the blinds between the glass.  I’m concerned about > the > efficiency since the area between the glass is not sealed (inner glass is > removable). >   Does anyone own these windows or have any experience with them? > I put Pella casement windows and a Pella entry door, with the captive > blinds, in the kitchen of my former house. > There’s a gasket on the outdoor side of the inner glass, so it seals pretty > well.  Aren’t there official energy efficiency ratings that take this into > account? > The blinds-under-glass were super! > I went for low-E glass which put a bit of a yellow cast on the view through > the window. > Overall, I was very pleased with the Pella windows and door, which were > pricey. > — > Jack Gavin

Response: