Most homes have one. The bedroom window held up with a paperback. The kitchen window nobody opens because it won't close again. The foggy pane behind a curtain that's stayed shut for three summers. It starts to feel like part of owning an older house.
It doesn't have to be. Plenty of the windows people work around for years need one repair, not a new window. If we've fixed something for you before, you've seen how that goes. This one is about the other windows in the house, the ones you've stopped noticing.
How can I fix my old windows without replacing them?
Find the one thing that's wrong and fix that. An old window is a frame, a sash, the glass, and a handful of moving parts. When one of those fails, the rest is often fine. Replacing the failed part brings the window back, and your trim, paint, and siding stay untouched.
Here are six problems people learn to live with, and what usually fixes them:
- A window that won't stay up. The balance inside the frame is worn. A new balance lets the sash stay where you put it.
- Fog between the panes. The seal on the double-pane glass has failed. A new sealed glass unit clears it, and the frame stays.
- A crack you've been watching. New glass goes into the existing sash.
- A lock that won't catch. A worn lock or keeper gets repaired or replaced.
- A casement window that won't crank. The crank or operator gets replaced.
- A torn screen. We rescreen it on site, usually in about 20 to 25 minutes, or make you a new screen.
None of these on its own means the window is finished. Our tagline is "Replace the Glass, Not the Window," and for old windows that often extends to the hardware and the screens too.
What old window problems can be repaired?
Most problems with the glass, the moving parts, and the screens can be repaired. Problems with the frame itself are different. Start with what the window is doing, and use this table to see where it probably lands:
- Sash slides down or slams shut
- Likely cause: Worn balance
- Repairable without a new window?: Often yes: hardware repair
- Window won't lock or the lock spins
- Likely cause: Worn lock or keeper
- Repairable without a new window?: Often yes: hardware repair
- Tilt-in sash won't latch at the top
- Likely cause: Broken tilt latch
- Repairable without a new window?: Often yes: hardware repair
- Casement crank grinds or spins
- Likely cause: Worn crank or operator
- Repairable without a new window?: Often yes: hardware repair
- Hinges sag or the sash won't swing right
- Likely cause: Worn hinges
- Repairable without a new window?: Often yes: hardware repair
- Fog or haze between the panes
- Likely cause: Failed seal on the glass unit
- Repairable without a new window?: Usually yes: new double-pane glass
- Crack or broken pane
- Likely cause: Damaged glass
- Repairable without a new window?: Usually yes: new glass
- Torn or loose screen
- Likely cause: Damaged mesh or screen frame
- Repairable without a new window?: Usually yes: rescreen or new screen
- Wood is soft or rotted
- Likely cause: Failed frame or sash
- Repairable without a new window?: Probably not: may need a new window
- Frame or sash cracked, split, or warped
- Likely cause: Frame damage, minor or serious
- Repairable without a new window?: Sometimes: minor damage often still holds new glass, so send photos
You don't need to know any of these part names to get help. Tell us what the window is doing, or just send photos, and we'll figure out the rest.
Can you repair old double-hung windows?
Yes, in most cases. Double-hung windows (the kind where the bottom sash slides up and down) usually wear out in the same few places: the balances, the locks, and the tilt latches. Older wood windows with sash cords and weights can be repaired too. Those parts can be repaired or replaced, and broken or foggy glass in the sash can be replaced too.
If your double-hung window won't stay open, our guide to a window that won't stay up covers the usual causes in more detail. And if we can't repair a hardware problem, we don't charge for that repair or the attempt.
When is an old window too far gone to repair?
When the wood has rotted. A rotted frame or sash won't hold a repair, so it needs a new window, and we'll say so. Cracked corners or a frame that's a bit out of shape are situational. Older windows often have minor imperfections that still hold new glass safely.
Signs that point toward a full replacement, and the ones that depend:
- The wood is soft or crumbles when you press on it. Rotted wood can't hold new glass securely, so this one points to a new window.
- The frame or sash is cracked or split. This one depends. Minor cracks often still hold new glass safely, while bigger damage may not. Send photos of exactly where it's damaged and we'll tell you which it is.
- The frame is bent or warped. Same thing: it's situational, and sometimes we can make it work. Photos let us check before you decide anything.
- You want a different size, style, or type of window. That's a remodel, not a repair.
A window that won't open, close, lock, or stay up is a different story. That's usually worn hardware, and most of the time it's fixable. It isn't a reason to buy a new window. Our guide to a window that won't stay up explains the usual fixes.
We don't sell or install full windows. So if replacement is what your window needs, you can take that to a window company knowing it's the right call. Not every old window can be saved, but more of them can than most people expect.
Is it worth fixing old windows instead of replacing them?
Often, yes. A repair fixes the part that failed and leaves the rest of the window, plus your trim and paint, as it is. It's a smaller job than a full replacement, and the window still matches the others in the house. Whether it's worth it depends on the frame, and the photos usually tell us.
If you're weighing the two, our honest guide to whether you should repair or replace windows goes through it side by side, including when replacement is the better choice. If you've already been quoted for a full replacement, see window repair instead of replacement.
We're coming for one window. Can you look at the others?
Yes, tell us about them. When people book us for one repair, there's often a second or third window in the house they've stopped thinking about. Send photos of those too, along with the first one, and we'll tell you which ones we can fix and what each repair would be.
A few that are easy to forget:
- The basement or bathroom window nobody opens.
- The upstairs window that's been propped up since you moved in.
- The patio door glass with fog in one corner.
- The screens stacked in the garage with holes in them.
Having everything in one set of photos makes it simpler to plan the visit. If you already have an appointment, text the extra photos to (267) 458-7879 before the tech arrives. If the parts are on the truck and time allows, the tech can add more windows to your visit.
How does old window repair work?
You send photos, we send a price, and a technician comes to you. Most standard glass is replaced in one visit, most of the time within 2 hours. Special glass and some parts take longer. You don't need to take the window out or bring it anywhere.
- Send two photos per window. One of the full window from inside, and one close-up of the problem. If a window sticks or drops, a short video of it moving helps too. You can send photos or a video through the Start Service form, which you'll find on every page of our site.
- Get your price. Photo review is free. If the photos show what we need, we can usually send a price within minutes during business hours. Each job is priced on its own, so you get a fair price for the right repair.
- Pick a time. Same-day or same-week appointments when available.
- We come to you. Our mobile glass truck comes to your home, and the work happens on site.
- We clean up. Removing the old glass or parts, disposal, and clean-up are included.
Two trade-offs. Tempered, textured, colored, and Low-E or argon glass has to be ordered, so we measure first and come back about 2 to 3 weeks later. And wood windows with a special paint finish may need a little touch-up after new glass goes in.
Is the new glass covered by a warranty?
Yes. Double-pane glass we install comes with our Lifetime Seal Warranty. If the seal fails and fog or moisture shows up between the panes, covered labor and materials cost you nothing. The warranty stays no matter who owns the property, as long as the glass is still in the same window, the sash is still in the same frame, and nothing has been altered. It doesn't cover impact or misuse damage. Details are at https://2hourglass.com/warranty.
What customers say
"Rubens arrived on time, was friendly and quick. In less than an hour he replaced the window glass (someone had sent a golf ball into it, shattering the outer glass) and replaced the torn screen. If I'd known it would be so easy, I wouldn't have waited years before getting it fixed!"
Shawn T., Google review
We have 2,000+ reviews across Google, Yelp, Facebook, Angi, Thumbtack, and Housecall Pro, including a 5.0 average from 1,358 Google reviews. You can read more at https://2hourglass.com/reviews.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix an old window without replacing it?
It depends on what's wrong: glass, a balance, a lock, or a screen are all priced differently. A range would mislead, because every repair is different. In our experience, a glass repair usually costs about a third of a medium-quality full window replacement, and about a fifth of a high-end one. Send two photos and we can usually send your exact price within minutes during business hours.
How long does old window repair take?
Regular-size clear glass is usually replaced in one visit, most of the time within 2 hours. Tempered, textured, colored, and Low-E or argon glass is measured first and installed when it arrives, usually 2 to 3 weeks later.
Should I repair or replace my old windows?
If the frame and sash are solid, repairing the glass, hardware, or screen usually makes sense. If the wood is rotted, or the frame is split or warped too badly to hold new glass, replacement may be the right call, and we'll tell you so.
Can you fix old wood windows?
Often, yes, as long as the wood is sound. Wood windows with a special paint finish may need a little touch-up after the glass is replaced.
Can you fix several old windows at once?
Yes. Send photos of each window that's giving you trouble, and we'll price them and plan the visit around what's needed.
What photos should I send?
For each window, send one photo of the full window taken from inside and one close-up of the problem: the crack, the fog, the lock, or the gap where the sash slides down.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties in Pennsylvania, plus 13 New Jersey counties: Camden, Burlington, Mercer, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Morris, and Essex. Not sure about your address? Check your ZIP below, or send a few photos and we'll confirm we can get to you.
Where we work
2HourGlass is a local PA and NJ team focused on window glass and hardware repair, with repair before replacement. We serve Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties in Pennsylvania, plus 13 counties in New Jersey. When you call or text, you reach a real person, not a call center.
