Myth #1: "If my glass is foggy or cracked, I have to replace the entire window frame."

The Fact: You can replace *just the glass* and save up to 70%.

This is the number one misconception peddled by high-pressure window salespeople. They will tell you that a failed seal means the whole unit is garbage and needs to be ripped out down to the house studs.

If your window frames (whether vinyl, aluminum, or wood) are structurally sound, square, and not rotting, there is absolutely no need to remove them. Our technicians can carefully remove the trim stops, pull out the broken or failed Insulated Glass Unit (IGU), and install a brand-new, factory-sealed glass unit directly into your existing frame.

The Anbes Advantage: Glass-only replacement (IGU retrofitting) gives you brand new, energy-efficient Low-E glass in a fraction of the time, with zero damage to your interior drywall or exterior siding—all at less than half the cost of full window replacement.

Myth #2: "That moisture trapped between my glass panes is just a cosmetic annoyance."

The Fact: Trapped moisture means your window is bleeding thermal energy.

Many Edmonton homeowners learn to live with a "milky" or foggy window, thinking it just ruins the view. The reality is far more expensive. Modern double-pane windows are filled with dense Argon gas to stop the freezing winter cold from transferring into your living room.

If you see condensation between the glass panes, that airtight seal is dead. The Argon gas has escaped. Your high-tech insulating window is now just two pieces of standard glass trapping regular, conductive air.

• Your furnace has to work harder to compensate for the heat loss.
• The window becomes a "cold spot" that creates drafts.
• Eventually, the trapped moisture can etch and permanently stain the interior of the glass.

Ignoring a failed seal doesn't save you money; it just transfers the cost to your monthly Enmax or Epcor utility bill.

Myth #3: "I can fix a foggy window with a 'defogging' service."

The Fact: Defogging is a temporary band-aid that does not restore energy efficiency.

You may see advertisements for services that promise to fix your foggy windows for a suspiciously low price. The process involves drilling small holes into your glass, spraying a chemical cleaner inside to wash away the moisture, and plugging the hole with a tiny vent.

We strongly advise against this. Here is why:

While defogging might make the glass look clear temporarily, it does not fix the broken seal, and it does not pump the insulating Argon gas back into the window. You are left with a clear window that still performs terribly in the Edmonton winter. Furthermore, because the seal is still broken, the fog almost always returns. The only permanent, energy-efficient solution is replacing the sealed glass unit.

Myth #4: "Triple-pane windows are the *only* way to survive an Edmonton winter."

The Fact: Upgraded Double-Pane with Low-E is often the better ROI.

Triple-pane windows are fantastic, and we install them frequently. They offer premium thermal performance and soundproofing. However, they are heavy, expensive, and sometimes your existing window frames cannot support the extra thickness.

If you are upgrading your glass on a budget, you do not need to leap to triple-pane to see a massive difference. At Anbes Glass, we can engineer a high-performance double-pane IGU featuring:

1. Warm-Edge Spacers (to prevent perimeter ice)
2. High-Density Argon Fill (to block the cold)
3. Premium Low-E Coatings (to reflect furnace heat back into the room)

This modernized double-pane setup drastically outperforms the older double-pane glass installed in homes built in the 1990s and 2000s, providing excellent winter comfort without the premium triple-pane price tag.

Myth #5: "If my patio door glass breaks, I can just order standard glass to replace it."

The Fact: Building codes strictly require specialized Safety Glass.

Not all glass is created equal. If a stray golf ball, a lawnmower rock, or an attempted break-in shatters your sliding patio door, you cannot replace it with the standard annealed glass used in a high-up bedroom window.

Because doors are high-traffic areas prone to human impact, the Alberta building code requires Tempered Glass or Laminated Glass.

Know Your Safety Glass:
• Tempered Glass: Heat-treated to be 4x stronger than normal glass. When it breaks, it shatters into dull, harmless pebbles to prevent severe cuts.
• Laminated Glass: Features a tough plastic interlayer. If broken, the glass spiderwebs but stays stuck to the plastic, maintaining an impenetrable barrier against intruders.