Spontaneous window shattering

[Cyndi_K]

Hello, fellow RVers!
I'm new to the site and am in need of some advice, please. Has anyone experienced a black out window just spontaneously cracking into a thousand pieces?
I just traded my 2017 Lance Model 1475 in on a 2019 Lance Model 2285 in July 2018. I had no problems with the black out windows in my last RV. But, sometime in less than 48 hours, one of the black out windows closest to the kitchen door shattered in place into a thousand pieces. It is in a secured, locked, fenced area with cameras. No foul play is suspected or shows on camera footage.
The black portion shattered and the clear window underneath stayed together. It was still hanging on the side of the RV when I arrived. But, as soon as I closed the door to leave to get something to cover it with, then entire window just fell right off the RV.
I've heard of car windshields and windows doing this and my RV is on warranty. Unable to get a warranty answer back from Lance yet after the dealer and I have attempted contact. It's snowing where I'm at and I'm afraid that my temporary garbage bag/duct tape repair won't keep water damage from occurring soon and I don't want to file an insurance claim since it would appear to be a warranty issue.
Does anyone have any experience with this happening to them? Particularly if they own a Lance? I'll need to file a timely insurance claim and I'm trying to get a replacement window pronto. But, all that doesn't seem to be happening as fast as Mother Nature is here in Park City, UT.
Any thoughts, suggestions, sharing would be most helpful and appreciated! I'm a single woman and sometimes I just can't perform the types of temporary repairs that a man is capable of. Hate to admit that, but there it is ...... 😉
Thank you!
Cyndi

[Cyndi_K]

Yes, WAY TO GO LANCE and TERRY'S RV!!! They've both been AWESOME to deal with before and after purchase!!! I didn't have any warranty issues with my little 19' 2017 Lance Model 1475 and I had a wonderful time with it for 2 years. However, I was still a little worried to make the upgrade to a 27' 2019 Lance Model 2285. I'm glad that I did, though. I guess there's a reason to pay a little more up front for Lance, especially if you're a single chick who has to make it all happen. Thank you again to Lance, Terry's RV and to everyone who offered up ideas! I think I'm set now until the new window arrives. Happy Camping, Everyone! 🙂

[FrankShore]

Lance stepped up and that's a good thing!

[All_I_could_aff]

Rather than tape to the wall right above the window, consider draping a tarp beginning a few feet onto the roof, with a few weights placed to hold it down and bungee cords. No tape residue

[mike-s]

Cyndi_K wrote:
2019 Lance. ... No foul play is suspected

Warranty, what's the problem?

[Cyndi_K]

Hello, All! Thank you so much for your advice and your posts! Lance has heard of this happening before and they're stepping up to cover the window replacement under warranty. Though it will take a couple of weeks to get a new window delivered, Terry's RV may even send a mobile repair man out to install it since the batteries are out and the RV has been put away in storage and isn't readily road worthy. Way to go Lance and Terry's RV!!!! Thank you so very much! What an odd occurrence ...... only the top black out sheet shattered & the clear glass remained intact. It appears to have occurred during the tempering process, which I guess happens.

[Cyndi_K]

Our TurnThePage friend is correct. It's in a locked, secured storage facility with another RV next to it protecting that window. No grass in sight and the parking lot doesn't get mowed, especially when it's snowing. 😉 High, secure fence in a commercially zoned area. No signs whatsoever of how it could have happened. No point of impact. Instead, the window was bowed outwards (as though it exploded from pressure coming from the inside of the RV - crazy, I know - because, there's nothing airtight about an RV) and the force of the explosion popped a rivet right out of the frame, too. No prying, no scrapes, no signs of vandalism whatsoever. The black out window was the part that shattered. The second clear glass layer underneath remained intact, even after it fell right off the RV. So weird .... I see this happens to tempered glass and that it is generally a defect during the tempering process or during installation. Since only the black out glass broke, it would appear to be a tempering defect during the window making process. I googled the definition. Interesting reading and such a bizarre occurrence. Thank you, All!

[TurnThePage]

Who mows in the snow? C'mon now. Also it sounds like it's in a storage facility. I haven't seen one around here that has grass.

[Bobbo]

eHoefler wrote:
Most likely a rock was thrown at it from a mower.

This is feasible. One time, my daughter was over, visiting her Mother while I was out mowing the grass. The mower threw a rock up and it shattered one of her door windows. She was not best pleased.

[deltabravo]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Be careful that the tape doesn't damage the paint when you remove it.

Lance doesn't paint their walls.

[eHoefler]

Most likely a rock was thrown at it from a mower.

[westend]

Acrylic sheet and Gorilla tape would probably be better than a garbage bag and duct tape. Acrylic sheet is sold at the big box stores and a smile might get your piece cut to size. Around here, a hardware store does that type of thing but they charge a few bucks to cut.

[Cyndi_K]

Yes, lucky me! Thank you All for your input! It is most appreciated!

[BB_TX]

You are not the first on here to report that happening on a TT. Although doesn’t seem to be a frequent thing.

[westernrvparkow]

I would doubt the the warranty covers glass breakage. Even a tiny rock chip and changing temperatures can cause tempered glass to shatter. I would see what a replacement sheet is going to cost, it might be less than your deductible. In the interim, covering the opening with tape and plastic is about all you can do. Be careful that the tape doesn't damage the paint when you remove it.