Condensation help!!

northwest1965

Do we necessarily have to replace the window frames or could we just replace the glass?

Gloomendoom

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

I assume that with the dehumidifier running we should stop leaving the windows open at night?

Yes, unless you want to dry the world.

TheCyclingProgrammer

So, it wasn't quite as cold last night, only reached 7C overnight outside. As an experiment we kept all windows closed and I also bumped our heating up half a degree (it still didn't come on after 11pm). I also made sure the louvres on our plantation shutters in our bedroom and living room windows (the ones that get the most condensation) were opened ever so slightly so warm air could circulate around the window better (the theory being that they wouldn't get as cold as quickly).

We had absolutely no condensation on any window this morning. This could of course just be because it wasn't cold enough outside for the windows to reach the dew point for our humidity levels but we have had some condensation in the past when it hasn't been absolutely freezing outside so I'm wondering if keeping windows closed and the shutters ajar helped.

From my readings the humidity levels outside were still lower than inside so we may still benefit from cracking a few windows during the day for some ventilation.

prosaver

I got one of those window vacs and use it in the morning when its bad.. have u got a fan in the bathroom and maybe leave it on longer with door closed.
Wont towels cause condensation?

mavisangelica

We live in a 1960s bed bungalow and even with new windows installed, we had a lot of condensation in the bedrooms. We invested in a Drimaster Heat last year before the winter. Definitely not cheap but even on the coldest nights, there is only ever a trace of condensation along the bottom of the bedroom window.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Well the condensation was back last night so it looks like somewhere around 5C outside temp is the threshold for us, lower than that and lids of condensation.

Will be unpacking the dehumidifier from Amazon today and giving it a try.

jrtfan

We're on our second Ebac dehumidifier in 30 years now. Our home is a 2-bed semi with solid walls. The Ebac sits in the dining room, we leave all interior.doors open/half-open during the day and the windows closed, apart from when I want to air the place. Ebac does a small range of dehumidifiers, the lowest-powered being suitable for smaller homes/apartments and the most powerful is designed for large 4/5 bed places. If the appropriate unit is used then there's no need to move it from room to room, it will extract moisture from everywhere in the home, upstairs and down, so long as no interior doors are left shut during the day time. We've had no condensation for decades now, and our uPVC double-glazing is over 20 years old.

Doozergirl

valleyboy22 wrote: »

Thought leaving Windows open would avoid the condensation because fresh air is circulating

Fresh air circulates outside but you still get condensation on your car.

The first thing condensation needs is a cold thing to condensate on.

gt568

Doozergirl wrote: »

Fresh air circulates outside but you still get condensation on your car.

The first thing condensation needs is a cold thing to condensate on.

So how should one stop windows getting cold?

Doozergirl

gt568 wrote: »

So how should one stop windows getting cold?

The first thing is the thermal efficiency of the windows. Anyone is going to have a hard time keeping condensation from single glazed windows, for example.

And the second thing is keeping the house warm.

And ventilation. It's a balance, but a common misconception on these boards is that ventilation trumps everything, which it does not. Double glazed windows should have trickle vents. If houses were built with chimneys, then I'm a great believer that those should be maintained for ventilation as well.