Trying to find out how important this is, or how urgently I need to get it fixed, monies a bit tight after a few issues with the recent storms. The plan was to replace the rear windows in the house this summer but we had a roof leak issue so that’s on the back burner.

Basically I have 4 double glazed windows which are essentially broke in the middle between the 2 panes there is condensation, and a fair bit. Is this an urgent fix?

no.

they’ll be less efficient as insulators but if the glass isn’t broken they’re fine.

Do you mean the windows have broken, or do you just mean that the window isn’t sealing anymore & so you have condensation forming between the two panes that make up the double glazing?

If it’s the latter, then I wouldn’t say it is an urgent fix at all. They obviously won’t be working as well at keeping the heat in & the cold out, but apart from that, there is no real issue that I know of.

You should just be able to replace those panes, if required, rather than having the whole frame & all window panes replaced.
That can work out a lot cheaper, obviously, and might provide a decent temporary fix.

Sites like this one:

http://www.clearviewbuyonline.co.uk/glass-glazing.asp

have a ‘designer’ option so you can get an idea of how much a pane is likely to cost to replace.

Yep there’s water in the middle of the glass, tbh they look quite old hence why we wanted to change the windows, if its not urgent then I can save some pennies for a year and then get them done.

Ive heard of drilling holes in the corners of the glass sealed units, to allow the condensation to come out…… as a short term fix.

New sealed units are surprisingly cheap compared to the cost of a whole new window.

Moisture in between the panes is as inevitable as death and taxes as a tiny bit of moisture gets in every time the atmospheric pressure increases, through those tiny holes in the separator, which are designed to allow the pressure to equalise. Eventually the moisture trapped inside overcomes the absorption limit of the silica gel and the humidity level increases to the point where condensation begins to appear.

If you go for replacement windows, DO NOT use a big national like Safestyle, use a small local glazier, who will give you better service and back up.

Just called a local guy, as I live quite close to an industrial estate, turns out he was on lunch at the cafe bottom of my road, popped in £300 for the glass they can do it within the week, quite surprised!

Turns out they have the biggest glass manufacturing plant this side of Birmingham as I’m local they can churn it out within 24hrs plus can give me a quote when we are ready for the full replacement.

There are companies around that specialise in replacing misty units. I priced up fitting some myself but found a few companies that could supply and fit them cheaper than I could just buy the units for.