Last Updated: June 14th, 2024

A Dozen Examples of Port Package Problems

Here are some typical examples of Port Package Problems ranging from the ‘foggy windows’ and ‘blown seals’ to structural damage and disreputable installs. There’s a bonus item: ventilation.

Exterior and interior ‘sweating’ typical for 80’s era systems
Mold is always a concern with any Port Package from the Third Runway era. Though the species of mold most often found around windows is generally non-toxic, it does concern us because it indicates that the home may not breathe properly.

Dripping on the interior panes. This is not condensation, but moisture seeping in, either through de-lamination or damaged seal between panes and window frame.
Proper ventilation is crucial to a proper sound insulation system. If the home is simply ‘sealed up’ to provide sound reduction, it can lead not only to health problems but also to the need for mold remediation—which homeowners often do not discover until the sell. It is unpleasant to find out just as one is selling that one has been breathing poor air–and then have to pay to have it remediated.
Not all Port Package problems are ‘windows and doors’. Many homes were fitted with several types of special insulation or ceiling hardboard. Whether because of the installation or the product itself, they gather moisture like a sponge and eventually damage the surrounding ceiling or walls.

This is a defect in a metallic coating (‘low-emissivity’ or LoE) between the panes and cannot be repaired. It begins as snow-flake like crystals, then expands over time to cover the entire surface. It can be misidentified as mold.

Structural damage. In this case, the original product leaked, but more significantly, the installer left large gaps between the product and the frame, compensating with shims and lots of caulk. Water gets in the space and eventually penetrates the framing causing rot.
Complete wall replacement due to poor install. Water seeped in through gaps between window. Over time framing began to weaken due to rot, causing the wall to deform.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking problem we’ve encountered–cases where the approved design in the Homeowners Handbook does not match the work actually performed.

Bonus: Ventilation

Bug filter bonus. Most (but not all) Port Packages will have some form of ventilation. These circular types are typical. Some homes have two, some have one. Some have none. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the implementation. However, ventilation is critical for interior air quality. If you have these devices, pease make certain they are clean and working properly. A major element of sound reduction comes down to making your home air tight. And major causes of mold and poor interior air quality come down to poor air circulation.