Sealed unit replacement vs a new window

Choose a sealed unit when

• The fog is between the panes and the frame is solid
• The sash still opens, closes, and locks
• The sill is not soft, swollen, or leaking into the wall
• You want the same look and the same trim, faster and cheaper than a new window

Choose a full window when

• The frame is rotten, cracked, or moving in the opening
• The sash is so out of square that glass will not sit
• You are changing size, style, or a failed operating system — not just the lite
• Hardware, balances, and weatherstrip are all finished and the frame is not worth saving

Hardware is a third option

A window that will not open, stay up, or lock — with clear glass — is often a crank, balance, or latch. That is hardware repair, not an IGU and not a new window. Do not let a foggy-window quote become a full replacement because someone did not look at the operator.

What a photo tells us

A shot of the glass plus the interior and exterior of the frame is usually enough to say “unit,” “hardware,” or “you need a window company for the frame.” If we cannot tell, we say so instead of guessing a new window into the price.