How to Reduce Condensation? 11 December 2022 at 1:15AM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 17 replies 974 views

paperclap

Hi all,

Yep, it’s that time of the year again. Windows closed, heating on, condensation appears.

We have a dehumidifier. It’s good, but doesn’t work wonders.

Getting condensation on all our windows, and tired of soaking it up with toilet paper frankly.

Does anyone here leave a handful of windows ajar (say, on the first lock) over the winter months to improve airflow and reduce humidity? It does of course go against everything we all want - to keep warm. If so, do you keep them open permanently? Only at night? Day? For a few hours?

Thanks in advance!

RobM99

Where is all this damp air coming from? Tackle that first, maybe.

paperclap

RobM99 said:

Where is all this damp air coming from? Tackle that first, maybe.

Well, every day living.

Breathing, boiling the kettle, showering, cooking, etc.

Mutton_Geoff

Targeted ventilation. Kitchen extractor (not recirc type) and bathroom extractor.

tacpot12

This YouTube video gives some very good advice: https://youtu.be/NbtijHKy2Vo

I would say that only need to open the windows in rooms where there is active moisture generation, so if you are boiling vetables, taking a shower or sleeping, and you can close them again when the RH is below 60%. A quiet dehumidifier for the bedroom would be one way of avoiding having to have  the windows open at night while sleeping.

I've had good success with humidity controlled extractor fans in bathrooms.  

We have a problem with condensation in the bedroom, but haven't yet bit the bullet on a dehumifiier. I have bought a Karcher Window Vac that I'll be picking up on Tuesday to avoid having to use towels. Toilet paper and kitchen paper are no good. Apparently the Karcher WIndow Vacs aren't that reliable, but can be repaired when they fail.   

Effician

paperclap said:

Does anyone here leave a handful of windows ajar (say, on the first lock) over the winter months to improve airflow and reduce humidity? It does of course go against everything we all want - to keep warm. If so, do you keep them open permanently? Only at night? Day? For a few hours?

Quite the opposite, blocked off all the trickle vents as they made the condensation worse, all windows closed,  sold the dehumidifier as it only made the air too dry although it did lead me to the conclusion that it was mainly working because it was creating warm airflow over the surfaces where the condensation formed.

Now using very low wattage fans to circulate the air , to ventilate we open the lounge window downstairs ( lowest window in the house & warmest room) then open a couple of upstairs windows, only needs 5 mins at this time of year , you can feel the warm air rushing out.

Try to avoid opening windows in bathroom/ kitchen if they are letting in cold air as this will cold crash the surfaces , always vent from low to high as you want the warm moist air to exit the window. Check trickle vents for the same reason , if they let in cold air then the interior window pane will cool quickly to below the dew point causing plenty of condensation.

Yes we still get a little condensation, around 30ml from 8 windows & only takes a few mins to do now , a great result for us.

RobM99

paperclap said:

RobM99 said:

Where is all this damp air coming from? Tackle that first, maybe.

Well, every day living.
Breathing, boiling the kettle, showering, cooking, etc.

Breathing - not much you can do about that!! 
Shower - as quick as possible or at gym.
Boiling veg' - As above, extraction is the answer. May seems a paradox but a steamer might help - you can use one pan for three different things at once!

I've not used a de-humidifier but seems a good plan. As I suggested, reducing vapour would be my first attack - threat the cause, not the symptom.

At a slight tangent, I think all new builds should have solar panels, extraction in kitchen and bathroom - and a balcony!

Green_hopeful

We also have got a window vac. Five minutes and a couple of vacs full of water. We minimise the moisture by trying not to dry washing inside and running a dehumidifier in the bathroom to remove as much moisture as possible. We have wood frames and a very narrow air gap between the panes.  We are looking into getting Perspex magnetic glazing in the rooms with most moisture. 

ashe

Have you looked into a PIV system? I am considering one to save the girlfriend going round doing this each day. 

diystarter7

Hi

When I read threads like this it confuses me re condensation.

When we had new windows in a few years ago and a wall replaced with double glazing as well - they were insisting something like "you need trickle vents build rgs" I think the bloke said, not 100% sure but he said something like that. I said no or we will go to another - so no cricket vents - never dry clothing inside. We open the window after a bath shower and heat on We never dry clothing inside. We are in most of the time as not working - but we never get condensation

FYI - we do not have any carpets other than on the stairs/steps parts only - we have leather sofas and min curtains, no nets.

From as per my post above, could dit be at times the carpets, sofas, and curtains holding moisture?

Do people need to open the window after a both etc even if fans are used?

Could it be to do with a very old property allowing moisture through wallpaper etc?

Thanks

paperclap

Thanks one and all.

PIV - I have looked into this. Certainly not ruled out. It is £350+, so not cheap. Plus all it effectively is, from what I’ve gathered, is having a window open. It introduces clean air from the ventilated loft space. Wherever it is placed, you will get a subtle draft of cold air. But apparently, very cheap to run!

Window vac - Seen a £30 Titan one on Screwfix. Seen a £45 Kärcher one too. But, I’m reluctant to go this route for two reasons. One, it isn’t attacking the issue, just mopping it up - may as well use toilet paper, as I’ve been doing. Two, pulling the blinds all the way up every day is a pain in the !!!!!!.

We’re in a 2 bed, 1 bath, semi-detached bungalow. Not the biggest of properties. So the rooms prone to most moisture build-up are naturally the kitchen, bathroom and main bedroom. That’s half the house already! Back bedroom gets condensation too, but don’t ever sleep in there. Granted, the door is open - but don’t want to close the doors to rooms and feel im living in an even smaller box.

Granted right now, we have been drying washing inside, as it is simply too cold to dry outside. But when we do, we do it in the kitchen. Door closed, small plinth heater on for 10 minutes or so, and the dehumidifier on full blast. Most dries, but some thicker items don’t fully. Finish them off in front of the wood burner when we have a fire in the evening.

When cooking, again, door closed, dehumidifier on, lids on pans. We do have an extraction fan, but not one that exits outside.

When showering or bathing, again, door closed, dehumidifier on.

I am literally putting this dehumidifier on each and every moment I can.