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So, this has been happening every winter. Our apartment is so humid for some reason that once it drops below freezing our windows will be frozen shut. Being on the 3rd floor of the complex means that I can't break the ice out from the outside.
Any ideas on how to open these windows?
wait till springtime.
heating them can make them crack, opening them take strength only a ninja and chuck norris can attain.
try spraying some de-ice in teh cracks and hope it seeps in enough to melt it enough to open.
Try the judicious application of heat by way of hair dryer.
Get a dehumidifier for your humid apartment. Or leave the windows open ^^
move
I was thinking that too. But, silver says that might crack them. And, judging by where he is from, I would tend to believe he knows. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by RUSHVision
You all are missing the most important part. You shouldn't suffer alone. Wanna get this problem fixed. Go outside with your hose and spray down everyone else windows with water and let theirs freeze too.
I would also vote dehumidify the room.
Glass cracks with sudden temperature changes. If you could find someway to slowly heat it up then you might be able to do it without breaking the glass. If it breaks at least your window will be open. :)
We tried the hairdryer solution last year, either the dryer was not powerful enough, or our windows are properly insulated (probably both).
I'd love a dehumidifier if it didn't cost $100-200 for a decent one. Unless someone knows how well the tiny $40 ones work.
I might be able to treat the window with a deicer solution before it gets too cold out.
I would probably use that solution more on my neighbors than the windows.Quote:
Originally Posted by jAQUAN
ctrl+alt+del
buy a mac? :p
sorry just begged to be said :D
just cry.
glass cracks when the temperature of the glass is uneven.Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonsplace
Coat seams with a thick vegetable oil. Might want to try husqvarna's chainsaw oil.. it's veggie based and rated well below freezing.
Or olive oil.
I'm doing some searching online and all I can find is articles saying that it cracks if the temperature is changed suddenly. A car window defroster uses hot air to get rid of the frost. That is hot air on one side with freezing temperatures on the opposite side and I haven't had my window crack from using the defroster yet because it slowly heats up the window.
You can also take a glass dish and put it in the oven at a high temperature. Take it out and put it in the freezer or in a sink full of cold water. It will shatter not because the temperature is uneven but because of the sudden change.
a hair dryer would provide a sudden change. they dont heat up slowly, they get hot very quickly.
if you have one get an electric blanket, get it so its covering the windows and set it to a low temp. it should heat them slowly enough to melt the outside ice.
I have. Although it already had a small chip in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonsplace
if you put a glass into cold water the temperature change is uneven. The freezer thing might work if you could suspend the glass in air.. as metal will conduct temperature much faster than air.Quote:
You can also take a glass dish and put it in the oven at a high temperature. Take it out and put it in the freezer or in a sink full of cold water. It will shatter not because the temperature is uneven but because of the sudden change.
what's so difficult about pounding on the edges until the ice break?
Window glass, glass dishes and windshields are all very different anyway. If you freeze the inside of a thick beer mug and heat the outside it will likely shatter due to the difference in heat, a thin wine glass will not shatter since the heat can pass through it easier.
Window glass is meant to stand up to change in temperature and most windows that I've seen are double paned with a pocket of air in between. The pocket of air serves as insulation and the window is meant to survive with below zero temperatures outside and higher temperatures inside (hence why I don't need to wear a coat when I'm home).
A blow dryer won't do much because of the insulation, I would never be able to heat the ice from the inside.
Tried it last year and it didn't work. It probably has something to do with where the ice is.Quote:
Originally Posted by lefteyewilly
Do you have double pane windows? It may boil down to poor air circulation. Do you have a return duct? Damp Rid may work for you.
And more importantly, why are you opening the windows in the middle of winter? Your kid's going to catch a cold!
Got no kids and I live on the 3rd floor with everyone else cranking the heat. Add my computer to the mix and I have an 80 degree living room in the middle of winter, plus it helps dry out the humidity.
I like it cold
he meant your other kids :mrpimp:
leave the window open when it starts getting cool. Put your computer in the open window like air condition window unit. Your house will stay cool and your computer will get some extra cooling!
I have the opposite problem...my place is way too dry...anytime i touch metal or a family member I emit a 300000 volt shock that sometimes produces a visible lightning bolt and hurts.
I'd say the only thing you can do is buck up and buy a $100 dehumidifier if you really really need to open your windows in this wonderful weather.