Pella
Reviews and Complaints

I sincerey hope you are reading this BEFORE you purchase a Pella window. We purchased our Pella windows in 2005 and have had nothing but grief from the beginning. This is compounded by the fact that the company that services the product in CT is horrible and take forever to make the repairs. Our screens did not fit and had to be replaced 3x. The measurementw were incorrect. After that our locks on the double hung windows (I have the Architect series) did not lock. There is a plastice piece that always gets caught. The service tech replaced the piece a few times and then finally told me that this is a common problem and I should just push the window as I try to lock it. Most of the time I still can't lock it. The current fiasco is that the I went to open a window and the window suddenly slammed shut and will not stay open. It sounded like a spring gave way. Simultaneously 3 of our double hung windows refused to open. I called in the sping and could not get an appointment until July. I had to take the day off from work because the only day they could come was the day I work. The teck finally came (they never tell you morning or afternoon until the night before0 and he stayed only a few minutes and told me that I needed some parts. He also said that this is a common problem with the architect series (this series was new in 2005). i had taken down my curtains and moved everything away from the window prior to the teck coming so now my house was a mess. He stayed 5 minutes and told me that the parts would take weeks to order and her would call me when they came in to RESCHEDULE. i HAD DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO THEM ON THE PHONE AND THEY KNOW THIS IS A COMMON ROBLEM, YET THEY DID NOT BRING THE PARTS THEY WOULD NEED. I have been unable to open my windows all summer. They were supposed to come today, so i did not go to work. i received a call that the teck called in sick so they would have to reschedule. It is now September.

When I asked to set up a date, they said they had to call everyone else first and would let me know either today or in a few days. I told them I wanted to set something up now so I could look at my work schedule and not miss work but they said it could not be done. I live in New England and do not open my windows between October and June generally speaking. Therefore, if they don't fix this until the fall/winter, I will not know if they are still malfunctioning. Next spring when i go to open the windows I fear that they won"t work or another one will break and now they will say it's my problem because it's off the warantee. The service appointments take so long to schedule that it's no wonder that most people very quickly reach the warantee limit. They keep reminding me that I am lucky they are doing it free of charge - but in actuality the warantee should be reset if the windows have a KNOWN DEFECT that is occuring to multiple people. This company needs to take responsibility for it's design errors and need to hire a repair company that doesn't take months to complete one service call.

ALL ICAN SAY IS DO NOT BUY PELLA WINDOWS. THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND THE SERVICE IS A NIGHTMARE AND YOU WILL LOOSE COUNTLESS HOURS FROM YOUR JOB WAITING FOR THE PROBLEMS TO BE FIXED. IT'S A NIGHTMARE AND A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER MAKING A MAJOR INVESTMENT. WE ARE TALKING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS NOT TO MENTION YEARS OF GRIEF.

We need to say nothing, because the video show all the facts. Water is flowing freely into our home through our brand new Pella Architect Series Double Hung windows. Pictures speak words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu0JdDY8rnI Please do your research extremely well prior to your family purchasing windows from Pella as Pella does not stand behind their products. Once Pella gets all your money they drop you as a customer. As you read the hundreds of other home owner's problems, it is obvious that Pella does not have any type of customer service. It saddens many of us to see Pella post sites where "consumers are to contact in case of product complaints". It is easy to see that this is just an outward attempt to show that Pella cares. Trust the thousands of home owners who have spent years attempting to get Pella to stand behind their faulty products. Do your homework! Don't make a decision that will make your life difficult in the future. Watch the video; then decide.

Windows did not stand up to expectation. Window leak and sash rot within 12 years. Pella had been contacted several times about condensation between the panes while under warranty (10 years at this time); and was told it was a problem with my heating system and humidifier (which was installed due to dryness in house during winter months)---so tried to adjust for windows also, but condensation continued. Later after warranty and the discovery of wood rod, I was told via a certified Pella contractor that the condensation was probably the result of poor caulking allowing water leakage, thus condensation and the sash would have to be replace at my expense. While under warranty, I was never told to check the caulking nor did Pella Service rep. This was new contruction and every window in the house was a Pella--would never use again or recommend to anyone--very poor service department/reps.

We would like to give you an update. We are spending the 3rd summer homeless because of our fateful decision to purchase Pella Windows. Pella has sent to our home teams of men. The last team of 4 Pella employees was in our home in January 2011. At that time, that team told us that Pella would be glad to manufacture a 3rd set of 49 windows and have them installed by the end of February 2011. We agreed to this process. It is July 7, 2011 and we have not seen anything from Pella since January 2011.

We installed the first set of 49 Pella Architect Series double hung douglas fir windows in October 2009, the second set in February 2010 and are awaiting the third set. As you can see from our first post, we paid in full for our window order in 2009 and have been sorry for that decision ever since!

We posted a Youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8vYK2cy-9Y about our home and created a website at pelladecideforyourself.com. We hear from families on a nearly daily basis that are in our similar boat. Pella has proven, unfortunately, to hundreds of families that we know of, to be a company that does not stand behind their product. As a Christian family, we are extremely disappointed with Pella because they are located in a well known Christian Community. We have had to, after 3 summers, contact an attorney. We do not believe in law suits, but we are homeless, for no other reason than the fact that our brand new Pella Architect Series double hung douglas fir windows leak water/air/snow.

I am attaching 2 photos for you to review. One photo shows a small amount of daylight in the corner of where the sashes come together. This is the white spot. It allows water/snow/air to come inside our home. The second photo shows you one of the toad stools things that grow inside our home due to the large amount of moisture that is allowed to filter through the holes between the sashes. We also have a large amount of black mold that is now present around our 49 windows.

One of the pictures shows the daylight spot between the sashes. This is where the water/snow/air flow through into our home. The other photo is of a mushroom that grew inside our house because of all the water and snow.

Please make your window purchase from any other company than Pella. They are involved in a class action law suit involving their Pro Line Windows. It is obvious that they just cannot stand behind their product, as they have been cheating families for years.

I spent $592.00 on replacement screens for my 22 year old home. When the screens were received, there was no hardware included to attach the screens to the existing Pella windows. 2 weeks of phone calls to the local number [protected], national [protected], and support on www.pella.com resulted in only frustration. I was told because these were custom ordered, I can't return them. They are faulty. How can I use screens if there is no way to attach them to the window, short of McGyvering them?
Pella has the worst after sales support service of anyone I've had to deal with in a long time.

A CONSUMER ALERT TO ALL PROSPECTIVE PELLA CORPORATION CUSTOMERS

My name is Charles Bagenstose. I reside at 1019 Butterworth Lane, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774, and my telephone number is [protected]. Along with well over 1700 other customers, I was taken by the Pella Corporation for a terrible ride. This is my story.

During the summer of 1992 I purchased a Pella sunroom from the James A. Cassidy Company (now K.C. Company) in Beltsville, Maryland. Unbeknownst to me, the windows were constructed in such a manner that water could enter the frames beneath the trims and rot the frames during the warranty period without my knowledge, because the damage was hidden by the aluminum casings or trims. By the time I realized what was happening, the damage was extensive. Not only were all nine windows of the sunroom rotted out, but also the framework of the sunroom beneath the windows was decayed although not noticeably, because it was covered with vinyl siding.

I was not the only person to suffer hidden damage because of Pella’s defective windows. A class action suit has been filed on behalf of 1, 789 other people, who didn’t discover their window damage until after the warranty period expired, because it was cleverly disguised. The suit is being handled by the law firm Freed & Weiss LLC, 111 West Washington Street, Suite 1331, Chicago, Illinois 60602. It is not too late to join the suit.

The wooden window frames apparently were inadequately treated, because Pella is now saying that it has enhanced their wood preservative to include EnduraGuard, which provides “advanced protection.”

Pella Corporation refuses to do anything to make amends to the customers victimized by the company’s deceptive practices. Since the warranty expired before the customers became aware of the hidden damage, the company considers the matter to be closed.

After only 19 years, I had to demolish the Pella sunroom and replace it with another company’s product. That is when I became fully aware of the hidden damages.

My new sunroom comes with a transferable lifetime warranty.

Two years ago I replaced all of the windows in my house with Pella fiberglass double-hung windows. The installer was DHD, the authorized company in Westchester County, NY. 10 of the windows have problems. So much air comes in that I have to stick insulation in the windows. I've called over and over again and have been told that the windows and installation are no longer under warranty and I will have to pay for any service. After paying over $10, 000 for this debacle, I'm livid. No one returns phone calls. Don't use these windows or these installers. DHD handles Westchester and Long Island.

We built our house in 1996 and paid $6, 000 more than a competitive bid from Anderson to have the great Pella windows installed in our house. In 2003 we had 3 windows replaced due to window rot.. They were just out of warranty, so I had to pay $600 to have them replaced/. In 2005 we had another 3 windows replaced due to window rot to the tune of $600?. Today we have another 12 windows that need replaced at the cost of $4500.. When I spoke with Pella recently they mentioned they use nothing but the highest grade materials to prevent window rot:. I have my brochure from Pella dated 1994 and it says exactly the same thing". Why should we believe them? I am done with Pella, . I am putting all new vinyl replacements in our entire house

A CONSUMER ALERT TO ALL PROSPECTIVE PELLA CORPORATION CUSTOMERS

My name is Charles Bagenstose. I reside at 1019 Butterworth Lane, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774, and my telephone number is [protected]. Along with well over 1700 other customers, I was taken by the Pella Corporation for a terrible ride. This is my story.

During the summer of 1992 I purchased a Pella sunroom from the James A. Cassidy Company (now K.C. Company) in Beltsville, Maryland. Unbeknownst to me, the windows were constructed in such a manner that water could enter the frames beneath the trims and rot the frames during the warranty period without my knowledge, because the damage was hidden by the aluminum casings or trims. By the time I realized what was happening, the damage was extensive. Not only were all nine windows of the sunroom rotted out, but also the framework of the sunroom beneath the windows was decayed although not noticeably, because it was covered with vinyl siding.

I was not the only person to suffer hidden damage because of Pella’s defective windows. A class action suit has been filed on behalf of 1, 789 other people, who didn’t discover their window damage until after the warranty period expired, because it was cleverly disguised. The suit is being handled by the law firm Freed & Weiss LLC, 111 West Washington Street, Suite 1331, Chicago, Illinois 60602. It is not too late to join the suit.

The wooden window frames apparently were inadequately treated, because Pella is now saying that it has enhanced their wood preservative to include EnduraGuard, which provides “advanced protection.”

Pella Corporation refuses to do anything to make amends to the customers victimized by the company’s deceptive practices. Since the warranty expired before the customers became aware of the hidden damage, the company considers the matter to be closed.

After only 19 years, I had to demolish the Pella sunroom and replace it with another company’s product. That is when I became fully aware of the hidden damages.

My new sunroom comes with a transferable lifetime warranty.

I was very excited to be purchasing a new Pella door. My new door was supposed to be installed this morning with a crew showing up between 8am - 10am. At 10:30 am we started calling. I have been hearing one excuse after another. It is now after 3pm and I still don't have a crew. I just spoke to my salesperson and he said there was no way they would be able to have a crew finish an install today. My husband and I just wasted a day of vacation each for this.

Buyer beware - save your money.

We purchased 49 Architect Series Double Hung Douglas Fir windows in August 2009 for a delivery date stated on our contract of: on or before September 8, 2009. The windows were delivered 15 days late. The windows were installed immediately. Pella was contacted the first week of October 2009. The windows leaked air/water/snow. Pella came out in November 2009. After weeks of talks, Pella decided to replace the windows. The windows were delivered and Pella installed them in February 2010. While Pella was at our house we learned that the Douglas Fir upgraded windows that we ordered and paid for were never delivered to our home. Instead, we were delivered a cheap pine window with a thin layer of veneer. Pella thought that they would get by with advertising that they offered 4 types of wood type: Alder, Mahogany, Douglas Fir and Pine. In fact they only really make a cheap pine window and put a thin veneer of an extra type of wood, attempting to pass the window off as an upscale, up charged wood window type. They probably get by with this most of the time, as most people do not know the difference. The new windows also leak water/air/snow. There is more to our story. Read it at: www.pellawindowdecideforyourself.com Pella refused to come to our home to fix the problem. We are homeless due to the water and mold damage caused by the leaking windows. Our neighbors have graciously taken us in. We need our home back, as we cannot rely on our neighbors forever. We need help!

Had Pella windows installed this year. Spent $6200 on a losuy product. I told the salesman my primary reason for purchase was noise reduction. Its been 10 months and i am still awakened by the highway every morning at 5:00 Am! I have been decieved, lied to by Pella in Hicksville New York. One bedroom window even leaks; my carpet has flooded twice during nasty rain storms. called Pella, no one has done anything. so much for the useless warranty. DONT buy PELLA!

I would not recommend buying from Pella. We found the same doors at Lowe's for $800 cheaper, but went with Pella for their "Superior service and installation". That was a bag of crap. Doors came in the first time with factory defects in one and unfinished with the other. Never could get a hold of anyone without having to complain to a manager, then the person would call back. Had to have both doors replaced, and guess what, again the one door came in unfinished again. I flet liked all they cared about was the sale, not the service or the customer. Do not buy form Pella. Go to lowe's and save yourself a bunch of money, time and stress!

For a slogan that is Viewed To Be the Best, it sure isn't in the $2, 000 i spent. I view them to be the WORST windows I've ever seen.

Okay we order Pella windows at Lowe's after scrutinizing over the different brands and sample windows. Wait over a month to get my special order delivered.

Then the excitement begins...built a frame for window one, square it up, install it and window fits perfectly. As I'm holding window while screwing in place I notice the gray caulking between the panes of glass just stops about 4 inches below the top right hand corner and I am actually viewing the metal track or frame in the glass.

After securing the window I immediately call Pella and explain this ... the lady I spoke with agreed that it sounded like I had a problem. She told me that the glass is replaceable and will have a tech call to schedule a appointment, so she assures me its okay to install all 9 windows and they would fix the glass.

Okay after waiting a week we finally get a tech appointment...like 2 months after I called...does it really take them 2 months to fix their problems? Needless to say it is now over 2 months later Pella guy came and went...he said that is where they put the code for the window like a serial number and all their windows are like that...I question how these windows seal up... and of course thats ok too. Management calls back like 2 days later to ask what they can do for me I said obviously rob me blind. So now I can look out my half-*ss built windows to see different things and numbers in the window and some have globs of gray caulking between the panes.

I know the outside of the panes of glass are supposed to be "sealed" to hold in the gasses(Low E) so what is the inside caulking for? Double barrier? It can't be when it isn't all the way around. Or is that what is supposed to be holding the gasses in? Maybe this is the problem with everyone's Pella windows. Other Pella window owners please check your windows and post back comments or similar issues. Im sure Im not the 1st person to notice this like the Pella guy said.

Ordered and received a new Pella patio door, Designer Series, and installed by Pella.

There was a 1/4 gap at the top where the fixed panel and sliding panel met.

So much for an Energy Star rating. More sunlight was coming through the gap than the light from my desk lamp produces.

waited 3 weeks! to get a pella repair team out. He bent the track to close the gap. Now every time the door open/closes, it Squeals!

Have to spray Silicone every weekend. Repair guy said this is Normal on these doors...

2 surveys compalining about the door...nothing from Pella.

The did, however, send me a coupon for 10% off my next purchase...I dont think so.

These are not cheap doors...Buyer beware

In my experience, I would NOT recommend Pella Windows & Doors. I've had many issues, such as seal failure and cladding problems, with my Pella Architect Series windows and doors installed throughout my home 1995. Please check out this website, detailing the various window and door failures/defects: www.onlinelitigationdiscovery.com Please feel free to share your similar stories on my website. Thank you.

I purchased a new Entry door and Storm door manufactured by Pella. The screen on the storm door does not work properly. I flicked a bee off the screen one morning and the screen ripped. So I ordered and paid for a new screen to be installed in my new storm door ($52.00). After my new screen is replaced in my new door, I contact Pella and ask them to reimburse me for the replacement screen as I have learned that the "original" screen was installed backwards at the factory. Which explains why it went up and own hard and was cockeyed. Pella refused to reimburse me, beause I ripped the screen. I told them I don't believe the screen would have ripped by my flicking a bee off it had it been in stalled correctly. They didn't care! So customer service by pella sucks and apparently they need better quality control at the factory. I do not recomment Pella, they will not stand behind their product.

We purchased our home in 1998. It has pella double-pane windows that have the blinds between the panes that had been installed approximately 3 years previously according the prior owner. In 1999 we noticed some dampness and discoloration of the wood frame of the bay window.

Pella send a representative to the house who promptly told me that it was my fault for not cleaning the vents properly and allowing condensation to build up. I have since religiously cleaned the vents and have ultimately removed one of the panes to better monitor the situation (and to prove it could not possibly be condensation).

The frame now has even more discoloration and the window needs major maintenance or replacement. Another call to Pella and they sent a salesman to sell me a new bay window. Are they kidding? Yet another call and they offered to send a technician to give me an estimate - at a cost to me. They did let me know that any work will be a minimum of $450 just for labor.

The warranty is supposed to be 20 years on these windows. Of course, you can't have a warranty repair if you don't acknowledge the problem...

Have over $10.000 in Architech Windows put in and all have what they call window rot I am talking about Pella Windows Have been very upset with this company in resolving any problems including the insallation in cold weather the windows have condisation on them all the time upon reading the problem is with the what they call the clad between the windows company always finds in there favor even though there are numerous complaints about this problem I hope Pella sees this complaint and will stand by there customers I am not giving up on this problem.

I purchased Pella windows for my home that I was the General Contractor for. On several of them the aluminum cladding on the outside is coming loose, and on the Pella sliding glass door as well. On the two casement windows in my master bedroom the air leaks right through them. You can feel the cold air hitting you in the face. Last winter I put plasic up in one window and when it was windy out the plastic would bellow out as tight as a balloon. In my front bedroom the 3 windows in there have mold growing along the bottom from the air leakage and condensation buildup. When I called Pella to complain about the casement windows which are still under warranty, the customer service rep. wanted to blame me for the situation. When I asked to speak to a supervisor magically none were available. I would strongly recommend that you never buy a Pella window. They have been an absolute nightmare to own.