First, you will need to get all of the necessary tools together. You will need:

• Heavy Gloves-You will need these when removing the broken window and the glass that may be embedded in the grooves
• Light Hammer-This will be used to tap the new glaze into the grooves around the new window
• Screwdriver or Chisel-Use to extract old putty that might be embedded in the grooves
• Sturdy Tweezers-These may be necessary to remove any leftover hard-to-reach glass chards
• Soldering Iron-This will be used to soften old putty for easier removal
• Sandpaper-Used to smooth the grooves after removing the old putty and glass
• Exterior Paint-You will need this to touch-up any cracked paint and to use as a base after removing the old putty and broken window
• Glazing Compound-This will be brushed into the grooves before replacing the new pane
• Putty Knife-This can be used to embed and smooth the glazing compound around the window frame

It should be noted that you can cut the glass yourself. When doing so, you will need additional tools to include a workspace, a sturdy piece of plywood, a Ralter square, a hardware strip, and a glass cutter. However, most home improvement stores offer free glass cutting if you purchase the glass at their store. If you choose to do this, you will need the exact dimensions of the glass. A general rule of thumb is to measure the inside of the window frame and order the glass to be cut 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch smaller than the interior window dimensions.

The first step is removing the broken glass from the frame while wearing heavy gloves. You will need to remove any old putty at this point. If the putty is difficult to remove soften it using the soldering iron. You should be able to pry the remaining putty out of the grooves with a screwdriver or chisel. Be careful not to damage the grooves.

After the glass and putty are removed clean the window frame and coat with thinned exterior paint. After the paint is completely dry, apply a layer of glazing compound onto the grooves on all sides to help reinforce the window. Carefully place the window into the frame.

Now take the screwdriver or chisel and gently push the glaze halfway down into the groove every few inches of the frame. Take some fresh glazing compound and mold into a string about ½ inch wide, and press onto the interior all away around the window. Before the glaze dries, take the putty knife and press the glaze down around the edge. This should make a nice visual finish. Wait for at least a week then paint the window and the glaze, being careful not to paint the window shut, for further re-enforcement.

Replacing a window is not very difficult or time consuming and doing so will help lower electric bills. Now might be a good time to consider weather stripping while you are at it.