How much condensation is normal, how much is too much?

Naf

And what can I expect my LL to do about it?
Now that the weather is cold, we have condensation literally pouring down our windows by the morning and making puddles in the windowsills. I'm not certain, but I think it could even be worse than it was last year.
I expect to see some condensation; its single-glazed throughout (luckily not sash, though, so not draughty), and there are five of us and the storage heaters. But if it keeps up then we won't be able to keep up with washing/drying enough towels to dry it every morning as well as us taking showers & the kids' baths. Water traps aren't enough.
What can be done about it, and can I reasonably expect my LL to do any of it?

Cissi

Unfortunately I think you'll find that the general consensus is that this is up to the tenant, not the LL. If you're already leaving windows open when showering etc and avoiding drying laundry indoors then the main thing to try would probably be a dehumidifier.

Waldorf_Statler

I second the motion for a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier works wonders for drying washing indoors, and runs at a cost cheaper than a tumble dryer (and is better for your garments too). If you're hanging a few loads of washing per week indoors then that could be contributing to a condensation problem.

anselld

Some condensation is normal even with double glazing, more with single. People have to breathe after all!

Too much is when it starts to cause mould damage.

If you are drying those towels indoors then you are wasting your time as you are just recycling the condensation into the air for the next night and it will just build up.
edit: Use something like this instead of towels ....
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/24546/The-Scoopy

Open the windows or get a dehumidifier ( a proper one not a condensation trap)
.

AdrianC

There's some basic physics going on here.

Single glazed windows get condensation because of the temperature difference between the inside and the outside, with the amount of condensation depending on the humidity in the air inside. Double-glazing doesn't get so much condensation because there isn't such a big temperature difference on either side of each pane.

About the only thing your landlord might be able to do at a reasonable cost is to get secondary glazing installed.

Naf

The washing doesn't dry enough outside now, so we're forced to do most of it indoors; but the towels all go in the tumble dryer.

We keep windows open all day , but that's completely impossible at night. I've had to go around & put new sealant around all the windows as all of the existing putty was just rotting, especially with it getting so wet so often.

How can I decide what volume dehumidifier I'll need, and what are the running costs like? Winter already gets to £200 a month on electricity.
I don't even think we really have the space to put one anyway... And I guess we'd really need one upstairs and one down?

Naf

anselld wrote: »

Use something like this instead of towels ....
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/24546/The-Scoopy

Its too late for that; by morning most of it is already at the bottom of the pane in a puddle.

AdrianC

Naf wrote: »

The washing doesn't dry enough outside now, so we're forced to do most of it indoors; but the towels all go in the tumble dryer.

Where does your dryer send all the warm, wet exhaust? Is it vented outside, or does it condense the moisture and send it down the drain? Or does it vent into the house...?

Naf

AdrianC wrote: »

Where does your dryer send all the warm, wet exhaust? Is it vented outside, or does it condense the moisture and send it down the drain? Or does it vent into the house...?

It vents out the back door.

anselld

Naf wrote: »

How can I decide what volume dehumidifier I'll need

Look at the specs for litres per day extracted (which is usually in the small print rather than the headline number). Get something 18L per day or greater if possible.

I like EBAC ( available online, argos, etc) mainly as they have a reasonable UK repair centre if it does go wrong. When I had cheaper far eastern models in the past they were just scrap if anything went wrong.

EmmyLou30

I'd also put some old towels at the base of each window to catch the water as best you can. I remember my Mum going round the whole house every morning with a squeegee wiper thing and towels mopping each window before we got double glazing.