Foggy Windows No More, Thanks to Glass Doctor

As if all the record snowfall weren’t bad enough this winter, having an Insulated Glass (IG) window fog up can run up your electric bill. The fog in the window means the seal has failed, so the window is not insulating properly and your heat is literally going right out the window.

Trudy Capel of Hiram, Ohio, shares her story about how Glass Doctor saved her IG windows and her energy bills:

Around Thanksgiving, we started looking around our home and planning out what we wanted to do to decorate home for Christmas. We noticed that as the colder weather approached, our front living room windows did not look so good anymore. They were all fogged up and had so much moisture between the panels that you couldn't even see out them. So we opened up the yellow pages and called Glass Doctor of Cleveland to come give us a quote on replacing the glass. We also called two other places.

Tammy showed up at our place in just a couple days and gave us a quote to replace the glass on all four front windows, plus four more we found that needed replaced around the house. She was very professional and thorough. She even showed us how our windows had tilt in accessibility for easier cleaning. We didn't even know that. We had two other window companies give us a quote and they were not as impressive, plus they were more expensive. The decision was easy - Glass Doctor.

So we ordered our windows, which arrived and were installed the day after we put up our Christmas tree. The installer was just as professional as Tammy. He installed all the new glass in our eight windows in just a couple of hours. My husband wasn't even late for work. When I arrived home from work later that day, I was so excited to be able to see the lights of my Christmas tree glistening thru my new front windows, just in time for the holidays. Thanks Glass Doctor.

Thank you, Trudy, for sharing your story with us. Trudy’s story is the winner in our Reflections e-mail newsletter “Help Santa” contest. She will receive a $50 gift card to Applebee’s in appreciation. To sign up for Reflections, go to http://www.glassdoctor.com/e-news.htm

Glass Doctor of the Inland Empire Collects Meals for 925 Families

Glass Doctor of the Inland Empire, based in Hesperia, Calif., is the overall winner of the company’s national Season of Sharing campaign for the second year in a row.

Owned by Matt Nicklaus, Glass Doctor of the Inland Empire partnered with the Salvation Army and Desert Manna to collect enough food for 1,250 boxed meals, which were distributed to 925 families. In addition, Glass Doctor of the Inland Empire helped 225 children with new toys for Christmas.

Conducted Nov. – Dec. 2009, the Glass Doctor Season of Sharing campaign encouraged the more than 170 Glass Doctor franchises in the U.S. and Canada to collect and donate non-perishable food items to local food banks and non-profit organizations. Watch our blog for two more winners to be announced soon.

Glass Doctor Franchises Earn Angie's List Super Service Awards

Three Glass Doctor franchises earned the esteemed Angie’s List 2009 Super Service Award. The franchises belong to group of fewer than five percent of companies registered with Angie’s List that met the award requirements.

The Super Service Award is given to companies that have a consistently high level of customer service according to Angie’s List, which is the nation’s leading provider of consumer ratings on local service companies. Thousands of members of the website share their ratings and reviews of local companies in more than 500 categories. All three Glass Doctor franchise winners maintained a total and overall grade of “A;” have received a minimum number of reports; are not in the Angie’s List “Penalty Box” and did not have an unsatisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The Glass Doctor franchises honored by Angie’s List include:

Glass Doctor of Charlotte, owned by Ed Sieber, located at 608 Mathews Mint Rd., Suite B, Charlotte, N.C. Sieber is the reigning Glass Doctor Franchisee of the Year.

Glass Doctor of Ramsey, owned by George Strauch, located at 75 Orchard St., Ramsey, N.J.

Glass Doctor of North Texas, owned by Larry Patterson, located at 2001 Midway Dr., Carrollton, Texas.

“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing the best customer service,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2009 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

More than 50 Glass Doctor locations were eligible to receive the Super Service award by being rated and reviewed by Angie’s List subscribers. To find the ratings or rate a new Glass Doctor location, go to www.angieslist.com.

Glass Doctor of the Ozarks first franchise to open in 2010

The Glass Doctor of the Ozarks franchise owned by Coy Pepper is now open and ready to “fix your panes!” Pepper (center), Inside Sales Representative Lucinda Ellison, and Glass Service Technician Danny Spain offer mobile residential, automotive, and commercial glass services to Branson, Nixa and other communities in Christian and Taney Counties. The shop is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 24-hour emergency service is available.

“We’re pleased to be a part of Glass Doctor, we know it will help us start our business off well,” Pepper said. “From windows to windshields to storefronts, we’ll take care of any glass repair or replacement needs.”

Upon purchasing the franchise, Pepper attended the most in-depth training in the glass services industry, a 10-day training course on the latest glass repair technology, customer service techniques and marketing methods held at the Glass Doctor University Training Center in Waco, Texas.

The Glass Doctor of the Ozarks shop is located at 1609 N. Hwy. CC in Nixa. For more information or to request service call (417) 714-4801.

Glass Doctor Installs Unique Outdoor Stained Glass Panel

The first Glass Doctor franchise in Canada, Glass Doctor of Kawartha Lakes, ON, recently completed a one-of-a-kind outdoor stained glass signage job. The glass service technicians put clear glass on both sides of the stained glass units, designed and constructed the framing, dug the post holes, cemented the posts and then installed the art work.

Glass Doctor Now Serves Hilton Head & Ridgeland, SC

The Glass Doctor® of Beaufort County franchise owned by Phil Boatwright is now open and ready to “fix your panes!” The latest Glass Doctor shop to open offers mobile residential, automotive, and commercial glass services to Hilton Head, Ridgeland and the surrounding area. The showroom and shop is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 24-hour emergency service is available.

“Glass Doctor offers more value for the customer as a full-service shop, with windshield repair and replacement as well as home window repair, plus home improvements like shower doors and custom mirrors, " Boatwright says.

The Glass Doctor of Beaufort County shop is located at 2633 State Hwy. 170 in Okatie. For service call (843) 645-9800.

Glass Doctor of Central Illinois Now Open to Serve Springfield & Peoria

Formerly known as Harmon®/Glass Doctor®, Glass Doctor of Central Illinois offers mobile residential, automotive, and commercial glass services to Christian, Logan, Mclean, Menard, Peoria, Sangamon, Tazewell and Woodford Counties, including Bloomington, Peoria and Springfield. The showroom and shop located at 262 S. Dirksen Pkwy. in Springfield is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 24-hour emergency service is available.

“We’re pleased to be a part of Glass Doctor, because the updated image will help us build our business,” Owner Brad Wade said. “Glass Doctor does more than windshield repair and replacement, we also can repair and replace home windows, install shower enclosures, design custom mirrors, replace entry door glass and handle commercial glass.”

Wade has more than 10 years of sales and management experience that he will bring to Glass Doctor. For more information or to request service, contact the Glass Doctor of Central Illinois at (217) 787-1215 or visit http://www.glassdoctor.com/springfield.

Glass Doctor of Moore & Montgomery Counties Now Open in Southern Pines, NC

The Glass Doctor® of Moore & Montgomery Counties franchise owned by Tim and Kim Hargrave is now open and ready to “fix your panes!” The showroom and shop is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday by appointment. 24-hour emergency service for businesses is available. The Glass Doctor of Moore & Montgomery Counties shop is located at 295 Pinehurst Ave., Suite 3C, in Southern Pines. To request service call (910) 944-2924 or visit http://www.glassdoctor.com/southernpines/.

Glass Doctor of Charlotte, NC Wins Franchisee of the Year Award

The Glass Doctor of Charlotte, NC, franchise, owned by Ed Sieber, was honored as the 2008 Glass Doctor Franchisee of the Year during the company’s 2009 annual reunion conference at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

The Franchisee of the Year Award is presented to the franchisee who has consistently grown his or her business through the Glass Doctor training system and has achieved a consistently high level of success through quality and professional service.

“This is the highest honor given to a Glass Doctor franchisee. The Sieber family sets the gold standard for excellence in the Glass Doctor system,” said Mark Dawson, president of Glass Doctor. “They have exemplified our values and our high quality service time and again - no matter what the state of the economy - for more than 20 years, the longest tenure of any Glass Doctor franchisee.”

The Siebers (Ed, his father William and his brother Wyatt) purchased a Glass Doctor franchise in 1987. Ed purchased the franchise in 2002 from his father and brother, and he manages the main shop in Matthews, N.C. Wyatt manages a second shop in Concord. The two shops employ 19 people between them.

“We’re proud to be Glass Doctor franchisees, but we’re especially proud to have such a wonderful team that makes this possible by giving our customers world-class service,” said Ed Sieber in accepting the award.

The Glass Doctor of Charlotte franchise has received a number of Glass Doctor company awards, including the Excellence in Leadership award last year and a total of six Top Gun awards for annual performance.

As a leader among Glass Doctor franchises, Glass Doctor of Charlotte offers customers the company’s newest products and services, including energy-efficient windows by MI Windows and Doors that qualify for federal income tax credits. Glass Doctor of Charlotte also offers G12, a one-year guarantee on windshield replacement. If an OEM replacement windshield that a Glass Doctor franchise has installed is damaged or broken within 12 months of the replacement date, Glass Doctor will repair or replace the windshield glass only at no additional charge to the customer (some vehicle restrictions apply; contact Glass Doctor of Charlotte for complete details).

Glass Doctor of Longview, TX Now Open

The Glass Doctor of Longview franchise owned by Gary and Vivian Jacobson is now open and ready to “fix your panes” after a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Longview Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

Glass Doctor of Longview offers mobile residential, automotive, and commercial glass services to Gregg, Harrison, Smith, and Upshur Counties, including Kilgore, Marshall and Tyler. The shop is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 24-hour emergency service is available. In addition to repair and replacement of windows and windshields, Glass Doctor of Longview can install storefronts, shower enclosures, entry door glass, mirrors, tabletops and other glass products.

“We’re pleased to be a part of Glass Doctor because of their dedication to high quality and service,” Gary Jacobson said. “We want to give customers in the Longview, Marshall and Tyler area professional, friendly service. That’s what it’s all about.”

For that reason the Jacobsons installed an innovative glass storage and workstation system in their new Glass Doctor service van. The system is the only one of its kind among the more than 375 Glass Doctor locations in the U.S. and Canada. The modular system allows glass service technicians to safely carry both windshields and flat glass for home windows together in the van. Flat glass also can be cut using a sliding pullout board (at left). Storage boxes for tools and adhesives can be reconfigured depending up on the size of the flat glass and windshields that need to be carried.

The Jacobsons also attended the most in-depth training in the glass services industry, a 10-day training course on the latest glass repair technology, customer service techniques and marketing methods held at the Glass Doctor University training center in Waco.

The Glass Doctor of Longview shop is located at 2907 W. Marshall in Longview. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (903) 297-9100.

Prepare Now to Protect Windows from Hurricane Rush

If you live in a coastal state, you know what happens when a hurricane warning is issued. People rush to grocery stores for food and home improvement stores for plywood. Plan ahead to beat the rush. First, store enough non-perishable food, water and supplies for two weeks. Then prepare your window and glass protection.

Avoid the rush to nail plywood to window frames by installing special storm panel frames that will be ready to hold the plywood in place. Pre-measure and cut 5/8-inch plywood to fit the frames before a hurricane is on the way. When the hurricane watch is issued, all you’ll have to do is slip the plywood panels into the frames.

How to Prepare Secured Plywood Panels

Storm panels and frames may not be able to be installed for some window openings. If storm panel frames are not possible, prepare to secure plywood directly to the window frames. This saves time when a hurricane watch is issued.

• Cut the plywood to fit at least six inches around the window frame.


• Make sure there are at least two inches from the edge of the window pane to the outer edge of the exterior wall to prevent damaging the window when the plywood is installed.


• Special clips that fasten to the window frame or brick veneer can be used to secure the plywood to the exterior wall.


• When a hurricane watch is issued, secure the plywood using clips or by drilling screws 18 inches apart around the plywood perimeter.
  

Other Window Protection Options

The main reason to secure the windows is to protect them from wind-blown projectiles and water. High wind still could damage the glass, but the worst of the water will be kept out of the house. So make sure the windows are sealed, caulked and/or weather stripped too. Replace gravel landscaping material with shredded bark or other soft material. Cut weak and dead branches to at least five feet away from the house. Put lawn furniture and ornaments inside when there is a hurricane watch.

If you know you won’t have much time to protect your home when a hurricane watch is issued, you may need to spend some more money. Storm windows, screens, and other protective devices are more expensive than plywood, but they can save valuable preparation time when a hurricane watch or warning has been issued.

• Install accordion shutters or roll-down shutters of plywood, aluminum, Plexiglas or steel.


• Large, open entrances to patios and sunrooms can be sealed off with roll-down screens or aluminum slats.


• Replace windows with storm windows that can withstand hurricane-force winds. These windows are made from two panes of glass melded together by a sheet of tinted laminate. Laminated glass doesn’t shatter into shards, it breaks into little pieces held in place by the PVB layer, similar to a windshield.
  

Storm Window Options

Glass Doctor now carries StormArmor™ Windows from MI Windows and Doors, which meet the strict Miami-Dade County, Fla. building standards. StormArmor™ windows have a 10-year warranty on most parts, frame material and insulated glass panels. These windows also frustrate burglars and reduce outside noise. StormArmor™ windows can be ordered with Low-E glass that qualifies for a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the cost up to $1,500. Plus the outer layer of glass can be NEAT glass that uses the sun’s UV rays to loosen dirt so they can be cleaned with just a spray of water. Now you can protect the environment and your home too.

How to Clean & Disinfect Windows

It’s really more confusing than difficult to clean glass. There are a lot of cleaning products on the market that promise to make window cleaning quick and easy. And it is quick and easy as 1-2-3 if you follow these tips from Glass Doctor.

1) Decide whether to use a retail glass cleaner or make your own.

If you use a retail glass cleaner read the contents.

• It may have ammonia, which cleans best but has strong fumes and leaves streaks. It may have al­cohol, which dries quicker. It may be a combina­tion. Both are effective, but they are flammable.


• Some glass cleaners are tinted liquid in squirt bottles and some are foamy in aerosol cans. Wipe fast with a tinted liquid, it can streak the glass. Foamy cleaners stay put, which is great for inside windshields. However, they may contain petro­leum products that are harmful in large amounts.


• Most environmentally safe cleaners have citric acid. This is an effective cleaner, but you have to dry it off quickly so it won’t eat into the glass.


• Spic and Span® by Proctor & Gamble® is marketed as a glass cleaner and hospital-grade disinfectant. It may not be available in stores, but it is avail­able online in high concentration for professional use. Go to http://www.pgpro.com for more information.

If you make your own glass cleaner, use the right ingredients and the right recipe. A simple, effective homemade glass cleaner con­tains vinegar and water mixed equally.

• Pilkington, a leading window glass manufacturer, recommends one part vinegar to 10 parts water for tinted or treated glass. Anything stronger can damage the tinting.


• Consumer Reports recommends a mixture of 7 pints of water, 1 pint of rubbing alcohol and a half-cup of ammonia. This mixture cleans better than vinegar and water, just be sure to follow the recipe specifically; it is toxic if swallowed.


• Never use bleach or abrasives in a glass cleaner mixture. The resulting fumes are toxic. Plus they damage the glass.


• If you are going to store homemade glass cleaner tint it with blue food col­oring so that you remember what it is.

2) Clean the glass without damaging it.

Use a clean, dry cloth when you apply the cleaner to the glass. Preferably the glass is dry too. If there is no visible dirt on the glass, first spray the cleaner on the clean, dry cloth instead of spraying it directly on the glass. Ignore your grandmoth­er’s advice and don’t use newspaper. It sticks to the glass and gets your hands dirty for no good reason.

• Never use brushes, abrasives (like powder tub and tile cleaner or baking soda), razor blades, credit cards or steel wool. Glass scratched with these things usually must be replaced.


• If you have never used a new glass cleaner before test it on a small part of the glass. Make sure it dries clear. If the glass is cloudy there is residue and possibly chemical damage to the glass.


• Use a squeegee to remove excess cleaner from the glass before you dry it.


• Dry the glass with a separate cloth. There are new micro-fiber cloths that do an amazing job of removing cleaner without leaving spots.


• Be sure to get all of the glass cleaner off the glass, or it will dry into a film that slowly con­taminates the glass.


• Watch out if you get glass cleaner on latex paint. It could take the paint right off.

3) Consider using a glass treatment protector.

Now there are a number of glass treatments that repel water, such as Aquapel® by PGW, which is available at many Glass Doctor locations. Most glass protector are designed for windshields, but they can be applied to shower doors, mirrors and windows as well. Make sure the glass is thoroughly clean and dry before applying a glass protector. The glass protec­tor needs time to dry according to the instructions.

Glass Doctor Ready to "Fix Your Panes" in River Falls, WI: Window Repair, Windshield Replacement, Storefront Installation Now Offered

The Glass Doctor of River Falls franchise owned by Jamie Bark is now open and ready to “fix your panes!”

Glass Doctor of River Falls offers mobile residential, automotive, and commercial glass repair and replacement services, including windows, windshields and storefronts, to the eastern Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The shop is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 24-hour emergency service is available.

“We’re pleased to be a part of Glass Doctor, we know it will help us quickly grow our business,” Bark said. “Now we are able to add glass replacement services for home and business to our auto glass services.”

Upon purchasing the Glass Doctor franchise in December, Bark attended the most in-depth training in the glass services industry, a 10-day training course on the latest glass repair technology, customer service techniques and marketing methods held at the Glass Doctor University Training Center in Waco, Texas.

Glass Doctor of River Falls will offer windows that qualify for the federal income tax credit on energy-efficient windows. Homeowners who install energy-efficient replacement glass windows and doors can claim a tax credit in 2009 or 2010 of 30 percent of the product cost up to $1,500 per household. The glass must meet or exceed the new “30/30” criteria, which is stricter than the Energy Star criteria.

The independently owned and operated shop is located at 645 N. Main St. in River Falls. For service call (715) 426-3500.

Federal Tax Credit Increased for Replacement Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors

The federal income tax credit for energy-efficient replacement glass windows and doors is now 30% of product cost up to $1,500 per household, an increase from $500 two years ago. The new energy-efficiency tax credit on replacement windows is available in both 2009 and 2010 according to the economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama Feb. 17.

Unlike tax credits for energy-efficient windows and doors in prior years, the “30/30” criteria is stricter than the government’s Energy Star rating program. Not all Energy Star labeled windows and doors will qualify for the new tax credit.

To take advantage of the tax credit, you must make sure the energy-efficient replacement glass windows and doors meet or exceed the “30/30” criteria to qualify. Here’s what to do:

1. Look for the manufacturer’s labels on the glass window product packaging. Save them for documentation.

The manufacturer’s labels should show that the qualifying replacement glass windows meet or exceed U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ratings, also called the “30/30” criteria. In other words, the U-factor rating must be .30 or less and the SHGC must be .30 or less.

The U-factor rating measures the passage of heat through the glass. Windows with lower U-factor ratings are more energy efficient. The SHGC rating measures the percentage of heat in the room gained from absorbed heat and direct sunlight. Windows with lower SHGC ratings reduce the solar heat gain in the house. It adds up to lower energy costs for your home, which saves you money on your electricity and/or natural gas bills.

2. Select the right replacement windows for your home that will qualify for the tax credit.

The most energy-efficient replacement windows on the market are triple-pane replacement windows with argon gas insulation (commonly called Insulated Glass Units or IGUs). These windows are eligible for the tax credits and will reduce your energy costs the most.

Single-pane replacement windows are not eligible for the energy-efficient tax credit because glass by itself is not an insulator. The U-factor and SHGC ratings will be too high.

Most double-pane replacement windows with low-E coating or gas insulation probably will qualify. You should insist on checking for the Energy Star label as well as the U-factor and SHGC ratings on the replacement window manufacturer’s labels before allowing the windows to be installed. Remember, not all Energy Star double-pane windows qualify for the tax credit, but if the product does not have an Energy Star label at all it definitely will not qualify. If you have a question about whether or not the double-pane windows qualify, a Glass Doctor installer will be glad to help you contact the window manufacturer directly.

Glass Doctor is working with its replacement window suppliers to offer high-quality, energy-efficient window products with the Energy Star seal that qualify for the tax credit. MI Windows and Doors has developed a special line of double-pane windows for Glass Doctor. With next generation warm-edge spacer technology, the ETC30 glass package includes high performance low-E coatings and argon insulation enhancement.

3. Save the manufacturer’s labels and documentation for the special form to be submitted with your tax return.

To receive the tax credit, you will have to submit an IRS Form 5695 with a receipt for the replacement window purchase and the window manufacturer labels and stickers. A tax credit reduces the amount a taxpayer owes the government in taxes; it does not reduce the amount of income on which the taxpayer owes taxes.

The federal energy efficiency tax credit is allowed on the cost of the actual replacement window product that qualifies. The tax credit is not allowed on installation services, onsite preparation, assembly, or state sales taxes. Windows for new homes do not qualify for the tax credit, no matter what type of window is installed.

If you have any questions about energy-efficient replacement windows and glass doors, contact your local Glass Doctor. If you have questions about the tax credit, be sure to contact your tax planner or accountant. We can fix your panes, but we can’t fix your tax returns if you’re audited.

Taxpayers should consult their tax planners or accountants and review all IRS guidelines. Glass Doctor is not a tax advisor. The above is a partial summary of the revisions to the federal tax code (U.S. Code Title 26, Section 25C) as updated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Taxpayers should check with the IRS regarding updates to the IRS interim guidance in Notice 2006-26 for further details on the tax credit. Other energy efficient improvements may apply; check the following link and the IRS website for more details at at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=97322,00.html. Glass Doctor bears no responsibility in the validation of obtaining the tax credit. Please consult with a professional tax advisor or the IRS. Glass Doctor expressly disclaims any responsibility for determining whether a particular product qualifies for the tax credit.