A spacer is the material, which bonds 2 pieces of glass together, creating an insulated glass unit or “sealed unit”. A good spacer can improve the efficiency of a sealed unit by up to 20%, reducing the transfer of cold from the outer to the inner pane. A warmer inside pane means greatly reduced condensation. A poor spacer (usually metal) allows for the transfer of cold to the inside pane, meaning more condensation. This moisture must drain and usually ends up under the sealed unit. When water freezes below an insulated glass unit it can cause stress on the unit resulting in seal failure (the bond between the 2 panes of glass is broken). Your sealed unit has now lost its insulation value. You now have 2 choices, to pay to have this unit replaced or to live with “foggy” uninsulated glass.

*Look for a high efficiency spacer with Warm Edge Technology, and a minimum 20-year non-pro rated warranty.