After my wife’s office was burglarized, we expected to see broken glass and the absence of property. What we would not have expected to see were several small beads amongst the broken glass. Tiny cream-colored beads were spreading throughout the floor.
They had the appearance of millet or some kind of grain. When the police saw it, they could not identify the beads either. Therefore, we turned it all over to them as a precaution. Later, we learned that they were in fact not mysterious.
A Clue Within the Glass
Modern insulated, or dual-pane, windows are manufactured with a sleek metal spacer between the layers of glass. Inside that metal spacer, are desiccant beads – moisture absorbent beads to limit condensation between the layers of glass.
That was what littered the carpet!
What Happens When the Window Breaks
When the front window was broken with a rock, it not only broke the glass but also ruptured the spacer framing. That ruptured the desiccant beads. As a result, some of them stuck to the broken shards. Other beads spread across the carpet.
The beads were not foraged by the thief, they were part of the window!
So, Why Do We Call It Desiccant in Windows?
To clarify, dual-pane windows are sealed to improve insulation. Over time, moisture can leak in to the cavity in between the window panes, vie the eroded seals. The desiccant beads absorb that moisture settling flat against the diffused panel glass.
Common desiccants are:
- Silica gel
- Zeolite
- Molecular sieves
The beads are non-toxic but should be cleaned up so children or pets do not ingest them accidentally.
A Small Mystery Solved
The beads were simply a part of the window construction. They were not a sign looking for action, nor a sign seeking the original burglar. They were just a reminder that even building materials can surprise us.
If you ever see tiny beads alongside broken glass, you are probably looking at the desiccant of a broken dual-pane window.
And of course, if you are in central California and you see someone peddling a lot of suspicious looking Ray-Ban or Costa sunglasses, be sure to reach out!
