New double glazed windows ... condensation inside

Woody39

I've recently had new 5 x UPVC windows and I'm getting condensation on the inside panes (i can wipe them) bedrooms are the worst.  After nearly a year the installer has replaced the glass but they are still doing this and is now running out of ideas.  Even the manufacturer has visited twice to inspect the frames!   I live in a 1950's house and told trickle vents were not needed!  I have good ventilation in the bathroom and I don't have wet washing drying.  I have another make of windows installed a few years ago and these don't get condensation (some in the same room as the new ones).  The next stage they have suggested is to take the trims off, window out and re-install.  Out of interest what should the gap be between the frame and brickwork?  Anybody got any ideas?

grumbler

IMO condensation is natural and normal, especially if the door to the bedroom is closed during the night and  temperature in the house is lower than in the daytime. You breath out a lot of moisture and the glass, even in a very good window, is the coolest surface in the room. Trickle vents have very little effect.

BTW, if you have a gas hob, burning gas is another hidden source of humidity in the house.

ashe

Condensation on the inside is nothing to do with the windows. If you have poor ventilation, look into getting a dehumidifier. 

Doozergirl

You needed trickle vents.  They ARE effective or they'd never have been invented.   Are these windows capable of being retrofitted with trickle vents? 

Do you have chimney breasts?  Are they sealed?  

There are different ways of ventilating a room, but it is essential.  

FreeBear

Some thick curtains drawn at night will also help.

Any idea what the room temperature is during the course of a day/night ?

theoretica

Are these windows less effective insulators, and so colder on the inside, than the others?

TELLIT01

If new windows have condensation and the older windows in the same room don't, it does suggest an issue with the construction of the new ones.  Trickle vents may well help but doesn't explain the current condensation issue.

Apodemus

Perhaps the older ones have insulated spacers or were filled with a different gas?

Woody39

ashe said:

Condensation on the inside is nothing to do with the windows. If you have poor ventilation, look into getting a dehumidifier. 

I don't have poor ventilation.  So why am I getting it on one window and not the other.  Same room different products!

Woody39

Doozergirl said:

You needed trickle vents.  They ARE effective or they'd never have been invented.   Are these windows capable of being retrofitted with trickle vents? 

Do you have chimney breasts?  Are they sealed?  

There are different ways of ventilating a room, but it is essential.  

I was told I didn't need trickle vents as my house was built in the 1950's and the houses were built differently then!  I do have a chimney and it is a working one and is checked yearly. My point being I have 2 different products in the same room.  Only one product gets condensation.  Weird

Woody39

TELLIT01 said:

If new windows have condensation and the older windows in the same room don't, it does suggest an issue with the construction of the new ones.  Trickle vents may well help but doesn't explain the current condensation issue.

Thats correct.  Same room different products.  Installed 5 years approx. apart.  The bedrooms are the worst and they have the new windows only.  Have discussed trickle vents but they can cause more problems alot of people seal them up apparently!  Personally I think the frames are to small as I saw one window go in and there was a gap of 30 mm one end and they used expanding foam and trims.  I did point it out and in the end they used a frame extender as I wasn't happy but also said the gap was acceptable.  I didn't see the bedroom windows go in!