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

Better_Days

I feel the cold dreadfully but still have the windows open a bit at night, as I like the fresh air. A combination of warm PJ's, suitable tog duvet, leccy blanket, fleece blanket round my shoulders and heat pad keep me toasty all night. It is a bit counter intuitive having windows open at the same time as when the heating comes on but the water vapour in the house has to go somewhere.

We do dry washing indoors this time of year, but I do also have the windows open a bit for the condensation. I also do an extra spin to get as much water out of the washing as possible before hanging up.

Could you stretch to a Karcher window vac? That would be a quick and easy way of cleaning up the condensation that accumulates.

dirty_magic

You shouldn't have to sleep with the windows open with children in the house when it's freezing outside! It's not normal to have so much condensation that you have to sleep with the windows open. Plus it's a complete waste of money putting the heating on when the windows are open all night.

The house obviously needs double glazing. The only solution I can see if the landlord doesn't want to install it is to move unfortunately!

bouicca21

It's only October and you think it's too cold to have a window open? I find myself wondering what temperature you keep your place at.

DRP

bouicca21 wrote: »

It's only October and you think it's too cold to have a window open? I find myself wondering what temperature you keep your place at.

Exactly, it hasn't been cold yet this year.

Personally, I've never used the heating overnight as it is easy enough to stay warm in bed. Expensive and potentially unhealthy IMO!

Ps. It's November ��

bouicca21

"PS it's November". That's me - always behind the times. But it's still pretty mild.

Naf

Running_On_Empty wrote: »

Try it, what have you got to lose?

Unfortunately hundreds of pounds as my storage heaters are charging overnight, and if the room remains cold, then I have to turn them up higher so they last all day. When it gets really cold they already don't last all day even when turned up full.

anselld wrote: »

Try some secondary glazing film ....

http://www.diy.com/departments/stormguard-plastic-secondary-glazing-film-l402m/26866_BQ.prd

Ugh, I've used that before both here and at our previous property. It doesn't come down well (especially off the varnished wood frames we have) but aside from that condensation just built up between the sheet & the window, soaking the tape so the stuff came off anyway.

Naf

bouicca21 wrote: »

It's only October and you think it's too cold to have a window open? I find myself wondering what temperature you keep your place at.

We can't keep our place at any temperature; storage heaters! We have no choice but to have windows open during the day to help get rid of the condensation, but a window open overnight leaves the house pretty much as cold as outside in the morning.

DRP wrote: »

Exactly, it hasn't been cold yet this year.

At 10pm on Wednesday night my windscreen was already frozen!

Bluebonnie

Naf wrote: »

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?

A dehumidifer costs about as much to run as your fridge, and works on the same principle. If you put a fairly powerful one in the hall or on the upstairs landing it should do the whole house.

DRP

Naf wrote: »

We can't keep our place at any temperature; storage heaters! We have no choice but to have windows open during the day to help get rid of the condensation, but a window open overnight leaves the house pretty much as cold as outside in the morning.

At 10pm on Wednesday night my windscreen was already frozen!

Fair enough it has been cold, but anyone in bed with night wear and a decent duvet would be fine.

My parents used to regale us kids with stories of frozen condensation on the inside of their windows when they were little... :eek:

dirty_magic

I think single glazed windows will get condensation no matter what you do tbh. We bought a dehumidifier that I leave on overnight but my OH moans that it's noisy. It does reduce the condensation but it hasn't stopped it.

There is no way I'd leave the windows open all night! It's too cold! Plus if you get burgled your insurance would be void if they hadn't forced entry.