what would cause a pane of glass to crack on it's own. it's installed in window crack startes on edge

Question

window just washed. by pro. window only 90 days old.

Answer 1

there could have been a very fine crack in the edge of the glass already, and a temperature change made it travel.
I live in the desert and theres lots of tiny rocks on the roads that'll come up and make a barely visible mark on the windsheild and the next day I'll have a crack going across the whole thing, so It could be like that...

Answer 2

From my engineering point of view.... its a stress concentration that is located at the corner. Maybe the house frame surrounding the complete window is expanding due to temperature changes. However, since the window panes are usually surrounded in a steel frame I think you would also see deformation of the window frame if this was the caused. The Power-washing could have done it as well, especially if the frame was prestressed on the pane (i.e. the steel frame was a tight fit and exerted a pressure on the glass). In this case, the glass would have already been stressed and when the power washer was used a second pressure was exerted on the glass, which ultimately led to the crack.

Just some ideas.

Answer 3

It sounds like the manufacturer did not leave adequate room for expansion of the pane within the frame, causing it to crack when exposed to higher temperatures. If you can show the lack of clearance around the glass in the area that cracked, this is a latent defect and replacable at no cost to you.

Answer 4

Glass expands with heat and cold. there could have been a small piece of dirt in the window channel that put pressure on it causing a slight crack. As the window expands and contracts, the crack gets longer - sometimes instantly.

Answer 5

The window was not properly installed. It settled and the pane of glass broke. If it was put in by a contractor have them replace the window at their expense because it was faulty installation.

Answer 6

The glass may have been accidental pre-stressed at the factory, or may have an imperfection at that particular spot. Also, imperfections are very sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. I used to score glass bottles in college, and apply a flame to the score (circular score) and then soak them in cold water to snap off the top part of the bottle. I then used, for example, beer bottles to make glasses.

Answer 7

It is probably a flaw in the glass from when it was made and the heat outside is making it spread and cold weather will also do the same thing

Answer 8

either way, it should be covered under warranty.

Answer 9

it could be heat.