What Should I Do When My Window Breaks? 

Repairs, Safety & Maintenance
Written By David Henderson

Need help with broken glass repair? Wenatchee Valley Glass is here to help. Call to schedule your repair!

A Homeowner’s Guide to Safe Clean-up and Proper Repair 

A broken window is stressful — but with the right steps, you can protect your home, document the damage, and get the repair handled quickly and safely. 

Step 1: Safety first 

If the damage may be related to a break-in, call local authorities first. Glass Doctor 
Keep kids and pets away from the area, and avoid touching broken glass. 

Step 2: Take photos (before cleanup) 

Take clear photos for: 

  • Insurance claims 

  • Manufacturer warranty questions 

  • Repair estimates

Source: Glass Doctor 

Step 3: Clean up carefully 

Use thick gloves to pick up larger pieces, and vacuum thoroughly — glass travels farther than you think.

Source: Glass Doctor  

Step 4: Secure the opening 

Cover the opening with cardboard, plastic sheeting, plywood, or a tarp, and seal edges with heavy-duty tape.

Source: Glass Doctor 

Step 5: Understand what actually gets replaced (IGU basics) 

Most modern windows use an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) — a sealed system of two or more panes separated by a spacer and sealed at the edges. The space is often filled with inert gases like argon or krypton to improve insulation.

Source: Glass Doctor 

That’s why you typically can’t replace “just the inside glass” or “just the outside glass”—it’s usually the entire IGU. 

Graphic suggestion for this post: 
Include a simple labeled diagram showing: glass pane + spacer + seal + gas fill + glass pane. 

See what IGU replacement looks like (videos) 

Ready to fix it? 

If you’re in Chelan County, contact Wenatchee Valley Glass — we’ll assess the damage, confirm whether it’s an IGU replacement or full unit replacement, and get you back to safe, weather-tight performance. 

David Henderson
Previous

What Windows Should I Buy? 
Next

When Is It Time to Replace My Business’s Front Door?