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I have a octagon shaped window in my bathroom that condensation builds up on the inside when the outside temperature gets below 35 degrees. When the outside temps get below 30 degrees, the inside of the window actually gets about 2 inches of ice all around the outer edge. The inside wood trim is stained from water and getting black. Pella says it is too much humidity in the house. I recently returned from a10 day trip where the furnace was not on and the temps got into the 30's overnights a few nights to find condensation on the inside wood. It has to be the double paned window is not sealed correctly and defective, but Pella refused to do anything about it. Other windows in the house do not have a moisture problem.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I've experienced many of the same problems with my Pella Architect Series Windows and Doors, including cladding problems, seal failure, spotting on the glass, rotting wood among other issues. These Pella windows and doors were installed throughout my house in 1995. Problems with the windows began less than 10 years after installation. Pella refuses to acknowledge these claims. On my website, onlinelitigationdiscovery.com, you can see photos detailing the defects with my Pella windows and doors.
I've very interested in hearing other people's similar experiences with Pella. If you have had these problems with Pella, please go to my website, onlinelitigationdiscovery.com and tell me your similar experience so that we may educate consumers. Thanks for your time! -A. Bailey
Here is my problem... My Pella windows and doors were installed four years. Then in Oct. 2011 (approx. four years later) one of my windows XOX had fog between the 'O' or fixed panes. I called Pella. A technician came out, investigated, took his measurements, and said they have to replace the exterior glass... Couple weeks later, the technician came out to replace the 'O' glass, but brought the wrong size and had to reschedule... Couple weeks later they replace glass... One week later, I had condensation on the exterior glass the technician replaced... I contacted Pella and I was told this is normal. And if I remove the screen from the 'X" the same thing will occur--so I removed the screens. I had condensation only on the 'O' portion of the window two days later... I called Pella, I was told condensation is weird and was sent a document on condensation... It is now May of 2012. After several calls I am being told this is normal and Pella has no explanation why this is the only pane on all my windows that has condensation. So I am waiting for another person to email me with, I'm sure the same "This is normal"... I am trying to get an explanation why I am having his problem. Has anyone experienced this problem?
Our Pella windows have so much condensation in the summer and winter that the windows have frost on them. We knew they were trouble when brand new windows have frost on them. It reminds us of when we had old single pane windows when we were kids. We have also found out, by purchasing 49 Pella Architect Series Double Hung windows, that Pella does not stand behind their products. We are now working out our differences in a court of law. As many of you may know, once you have been taken by a company, at least in Iowa, we only had 2 years to file with the court for help. We gave Pella the benefit of the doubt and nearly 2 years to fix our windows. They refused to even attempt to provide any communication unless we called every day or emailed every day. We then figured out that Pella was only "playing us" to run out their 2 year time frame. So here we sit, waiting on the Iowa Court System to play out. Our trial is set for Marion County Court, Iowa on February 12, 2013. This has been a long time coming, as we have been homeless since the fall of 2009 when we installed our Pella windows into our home. They leak water/snow so badly that we have an extremely awful mold problem when it is wet. You can see the videos that are posted on YouTube of our home under Pella Window Problems. We posted these so that other home owners could see the potential windows that they might be thinking of putting into their homes. We want to educate the population on our problems. Please do your homework!
just installed 4 double-hang and 60" bay proline windows. Have condensation even though the humidity was not high. I was told that the house humidity should be around 25%. Anything higher than that will result condensation. Their corporate also said that they will send me explanation about condensation. She also told me that I should have received a user manual (something like that); which will explained how their windows perform best. If the sales had explained this to me, I would not buy the window. When the contractors worked in my house couldn't believe how much water was built up around the glass. For anyone read this, please don't buy pella windows. I am collecting all information and prepare to take them to court. Very unfortunate because I thought Pella is one of the best window & door manufacturer. Was I wrong!
I have Pella casement Pro-line Series throughout my home. They are going on 2 years old. They have been through their second winter and have been condensing through both winters so far. I have been running a dehumidifier on the continuous setting this past winter but they still had so much condensation on them and I have to wipe them off several times a day. Every window has some black rot on the bottom of the sash, and some of them also have it spreading to the sides and top. They do not look like the new windows that they should look like. I contacted my Pella representative and he came out to inspect the situation. Of course he said that my house has a moisture problem (which it does not), and I stated that when I have my automatic setting on the dehumidifier it does not come on which clearly reflects the low moisture level of my home. I have to by-pass the auto setting and put in on continuous just so that it will run. That is how they are designed. Auto senses moisture and will set itself to run, and if it doesn't come on, that specifically means your moisture content is very low. The windows condense more severely when the weather is colder. They don't do it over 45 degrees. I'm speculating that it's the aluminum strip between the double panes and also on the outside that is causing the problem. The last house we built was also a timber frame SIP house and we had Anderson double pane windows with vinyl and they NEVER condensed at all. So I'm assuming that is the difference. Unfortunately I only get the employee discount to replace all 21 sashes and it's going to cost 4, 000+. I'm replacing one window with a triple pane to see if that solves the problem first. That will give me an extra thermal barrier between warm meeting cold air. If that works, then I will order them as I can afford to, doing the worst ones first. Pella should know by now that this problem has arisen before as there have been MANY complaints, and they knew that we were building an airtight home. I wish I had done my research before, but the people who represent these companies should be the experts that help you make those decisions. We are timber frame builders and will NOT recommend Pella products. Our Pella storm door was one year old and we had to send for a new tumbler for the lock closure and the top storm window became displaced as it had slid down towards the lower one. They don't send anyone out to fix the storm doors because they are considered an accessory which they don't cover..They sent the parts we needed UPS and we had to do it ourselves. No Pella products ever again! As I call them "HELLA" Buyers BEWARE!
I love my Pella Windows... Ive had condensation with every kind of window I've ever had... I thought my windows were bad, too... Until I talked to the contractor and started reading articles online. Humidity is the problem...use bathroom fans... Put the dehumidifier on... ( upstairs.. If yours is downstairs)...consider all moister that goes into the air... Cooking.. Plants.. Fish tanks...if you have April sure... TURN IT OFF! This is a scientific phenomenon! Hot and cold create condensation and when it is really cold... It turns to ice. Wipe the condensation off when you see it if you have wood Windows and keep blinds open. I think that I'm going to crack a window open one night... As mentioned in a different post... And see what happens... Makes sense. Mother Nature doesn't care about our windows!
We've also had automatic dehumidifiers and I learned that the humidity levels are different through the house. The sensor isn't necessarily " sensing" everything. I got a moisture detector and found that to be true!
People... I complained.. Thought my windows were bad.. Thought of lawsuits... Found out it's just the nature of the beast if you live in a cold climate. And no, I'm not a window salesman. I'm a consumer who got mad... And then embarrassed!
Oh yeah... Obviously... If there is " fog" between double pane windows... That is a problem... Broken seal. That has to be fixed. And... If you spend money for beautiful wood windows, as I did... They take maintenance.
We have 40+ aluminum clad Pella Windows and 6 Pella French doors. The windows are rotting. O cannot believe the company expected the homeowner to caulk every window once a year--or even every 5 years. These windows should have been sealed better. Looking for a class action suit to join. Mary Jo O'Rourke Malvern PA