Condensation in and on double glazing

Albermarle

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said:

kuepper said:

2 months ago I had new windows fitted in kitchen and bathroom and a new back door with glazing that opens into the kitchen. Now the weather has got colder I've noticed condensation on the new windows and door and even when I wipe it off it soon recurs and I can see it glistening where the rubber seal meets the glass. It's always on the lowest part of the glass.

I've read elsewhere that this is normal though I didn't expect it - I've had trickle vents open all the time and as I live alone I don't generate much steam.

However I'm concerned that after only 2 months there appears to be condensation on the inside of one of the glazed units in my bathroom, photo attached. So does the unit need replacing or the whole window? I wondered if water from the condensation could have weakened the rubber seal but it shouldn't have been able to get in anyway should it as the unit is supposed to be a vacuum  so is it a manufacturing fault?

If the bathroom window has condie forming actually within the glazed unit - ie you cannot wipe it away - then that unit has failed. No obvious cause - usually just bad luck. They will (should), of course, replace it without question.

If your new DG had replaced single-glazing, then I think you'd have noticed a more significant improvement, but all DG, regardless of how old, is actually pretty effective, so you are unlikely to experience anything transformative by upgrading.

One thing I did notice after having new double glazed windows fitted was condensation forming on the outside of the glass on some chilly days. This condensation looked very similar to @kuepper and could be mistaken for moisture within the sealed unit. Before calling the installer, give the outside of the window a quick wipe down.

And replacing my knackered old 1970s vintage DG windows instantly improved comfort levels inside. Rooms are now much easier to heat.

On certain days we also get condensation on the outside of our DG bay window in the early morning, and also on some DG rooflights. It seems to happen more in the autumn.
Otherwise our house is a bit draughty and we only get condensation on the inside of the DG in the bathrooms after a shower. The smaller bathroom is much worse and needs a wipe down and the window open after a shower.

ThisIsWeird

Albermarle said:

On certain days we also get condensation on the outside of our DG bay window in the early morning, and also on some DG rooflights. It seems to happen more in the autumn.
Otherwise our house is a bit draughty and we only get condensation on the inside of the DG in the bathrooms after a shower. The smaller bathroom is much worse and needs a wipe down and the window open after a shower.

Condie on the outside of DG windows is a good sign - it indicates that the DG's insulation is working so well that it won't raise the outside surface temp high enough to prevent this cond.

kuepper

Mr.Generous said:

kuepper said:

Newbie_John said:

Kitchen and bathroom tend to have high humidity. You also mention keeping them cold. With new windows all that steam shows up on windows - it is really expected - as it can't go anywhere else.

Your choice is to either:
- air it in the morning before putting heating on
- wipe it off
- use a window vac to sack the moisture
- get a dehumidifier
- keep rooms warmer

Regarding water inside the window - that needs replacing.

I don't generate much steam, a few kettles a day, few pans a week, washing up a couple of times a week, wash and shave every morning. Plus the trickle vents on the new windows are open. Besides breathing and houseplants there's not much other water vapour created and I've no problem in bedrooms and living room 

No baths or showers?

I go to the gym every day and shower there. I may have the odd one at home in summer but I always open the window if I do.

twopenny

I have 2 rooms North facing and when it gets this cold the one I sleep in gets condensation just from me breathing for 8hrs.

It's got more since having new seals put in last spring.

I was disappointed as I'd hoped moving to double glazed would mean not having this chore but like TIWeird I'm not having windows open in this cold snap.

Also it's been exceedingly wet this year so I suspect there's a lot of moisture in the air generally, at least that's what my washing thinks when I try to dry it.

I was wondering if window vacs actually work?

kuepper

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said:

kuepper said:

2 months ago I had new windows fitted in kitchen and bathroom and a new back door with glazing that opens into the kitchen. Now the weather has got colder I've noticed condensation on the new windows and door and even when I wipe it off it soon recurs and I can see it glistening where the rubber seal meets the glass. It's always on the lowest part of the glass.

I've read elsewhere that this is normal though I didn't expect it - I've had trickle vents open all the time and as I live alone I don't generate much steam.

However I'm concerned that after only 2 months there appears to be condensation on the inside of one of the glazed units in my bathroom, photo attached. So does the unit need replacing or the whole window? I wondered if water from the condensation could have weakened the rubber seal but it shouldn't have been able to get in anyway should it as the unit is supposed to be a vacuum  so is it a manufacturing fault?

If the bathroom window has condie forming actually within the glazed unit - ie you cannot wipe it away - then that unit has failed. No obvious cause - usually just bad luck. They will (should), of course, replace it without question.

If your new DG had replaced single-glazing, then I think you'd have noticed a more significant improvement, but all DG, regardless of how old, is actually pretty effective, so you are unlikely to experience anything transformative by upgrading.

One thing I did notice after having new double glazed windows fitted was condensation forming on the outside of the glass on some chilly days. This condensation looked very similar to @kuepper and could be mistaken for moisture within the sealed unit. Before calling the installer, give the outside of the window a quick wipe down.

And replacing my knackered old 1970s vintage DG windows instantly improved comfort levels inside. Rooms are now much easier to heat.

Thanks for mentioning that as the condensation inside the glazing wasn't there this morning but I wondered if it was because I'd had the heating on last night. I couldn't really check if it was outside yesterday as it was an upstairs room and I didn't have anything to reach but if it happens again I'll borrow a ladder

Newbie_John

kuepper said:

Newbie_John said:

Kitchen and bathroom tend to have high humidity. You also mention keeping them cold. With new windows all that steam shows up on windows - it is really expected - as it can't go anywhere else.

Your choice is to either:
- air it in the morning before putting heating on
- wipe it off
- use a window vac to sack the moisture
- get a dehumidifier
- keep rooms warmer

Regarding water inside the window - that needs replacing.

I don't generate much steam, a few kettles a day, few pans a week, washing up a couple of times a week, wash and shave every morning. Plus the trickle vents on the new windows are open. Besides breathing and houseplants there's not much other water vapour created and I've no problem in bedrooms and living room 

It all adds up, you lose about a cup of water breathing alone. And how many cups of water are you able to collect from all the windows everyday? 

twopenny

I have your answer.........just got onto the computer in an unheated north facing room (no condensation) for what I thought was a 10 min job and it took over an hour.

There was condensation along the bottom of the windows when I'd finished.

It's 2c here, maybe less outside this room.

koalakoala

kuepper said:

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said:

kuepper said:

2 months ago I had new windows fitted in kitchen and bathroom and a new back door with glazing that opens into the kitchen. Now the weather has got colder I've noticed condensation on the new windows and door and even when I wipe it off it soon recurs and I can see it glistening where the rubber seal meets the glass. It's always on the lowest part of the glass.

I've read elsewhere that this is normal though I didn't expect it - I've had trickle vents open all the time and as I live alone I don't generate much steam.

However I'm concerned that after only 2 months there appears to be condensation on the inside of one of the glazed units in my bathroom, photo attached. So does the unit need replacing or the whole window? I wondered if water from the condensation could have weakened the rubber seal but it shouldn't have been able to get in anyway should it as the unit is supposed to be a vacuum  so is it a manufacturing fault?

If the bathroom window has condie forming actually within the glazed unit - ie you cannot wipe it away - then that unit has failed. No obvious cause - usually just bad luck. They will (should), of course, replace it without question.

If your new DG had replaced single-glazing, then I think you'd have noticed a more significant improvement, but all DG, regardless of how old, is actually pretty effective, so you are unlikely to experience anything transformative by upgrading.

One thing I did notice after having new double glazed windows fitted was condensation forming on the outside of the glass on some chilly days. This condensation looked very similar to @kuepper and could be mistaken for moisture within the sealed unit. Before calling the installer, give the outside of the window a quick wipe down.

And replacing my knackered old 1970s vintage DG windows instantly improved comfort levels inside. Rooms are now much easier to heat.

Thanks for mentioning that as the condensation inside the glazing wasn't there this morning but I wondered if it was because I'd had the heating on last night. I couldn't really check if it was outside yesterday as it was an upstairs room and I didn't have anything to reach but if it happens again I'll borrow a ladder

Are they argon filled?
i was told ( but I’ve no idea if it’s correct) that argon can turn to moisture then back to gas

KxMx

twopenny said:

I have 2 rooms North facing and when it gets this cold the one I sleep in gets condensation just from me breathing for 8hrs.

It's got more since having new seals put in last spring.

I was disappointed as I'd hoped moving to double glazed would mean not having this chore but like TIWeird I'm not having windows open in this cold snap.

Also it's been exceedingly wet this year so I suspect there's a lot of moisture in the air generally, at least that's what my washing thinks when I try to dry it.

I was wondering if window vacs actually work?

They do, I was genuinely impressed with mine. 

I live in a ground floor flat, and it's the "wettest" place I've ever lived.

It's not lifestyle, I'm generous with heating & only dry clothes in the bathroom with door shut and extractor fan on.
Zero issues with mould anywhere. 

I have a north facing bedroom with 3 sided bay window, even in the summer with higher temperatures and constant ventilation the dessicant dehumidifier fills up quickly. 
You can imagine what it's like in winter!

Bedroom trickle vents get shut in October otherwise it'd never be warm, the others all stay open unless particularly cold or gale force winds when I shut temporarily. 
Over winter I do open a window in each room for 10-15mins several days a week. 

This winter hasn't been too bad at all for condensation, until this past week. Finally needed to get my window vac out of the shed.

Even the south facing living room (also bay window) it's started increasing and I need the vac for that too.

Chickereeeee

koalakoala said:

kuepper said:

FreeBear said:

ThisIsWeird said:

kuepper said:

2 months ago I had new windows fitted in kitchen and bathroom and a new back door with glazing that opens into the kitchen. Now the weather has got colder I've noticed condensation on the new windows and door and even when I wipe it off it soon recurs and I can see it glistening where the rubber seal meets the glass. It's always on the lowest part of the glass.

I've read elsewhere that this is normal though I didn't expect it - I've had trickle vents open all the time and as I live alone I don't generate much steam.

However I'm concerned that after only 2 months there appears to be condensation on the inside of one of the glazed units in my bathroom, photo attached. So does the unit need replacing or the whole window? I wondered if water from the condensation could have weakened the rubber seal but it shouldn't have been able to get in anyway should it as the unit is supposed to be a vacuum  so is it a manufacturing fault?

If the bathroom window has condie forming actually within the glazed unit - ie you cannot wipe it away - then that unit has failed. No obvious cause - usually just bad luck. They will (should), of course, replace it without question.

If your new DG had replaced single-glazing, then I think you'd have noticed a more significant improvement, but all DG, regardless of how old, is actually pretty effective, so you are unlikely to experience anything transformative by upgrading.

One thing I did notice after having new double glazed windows fitted was condensation forming on the outside of the glass on some chilly days. This condensation looked very similar to @kuepper and could be mistaken for moisture within the sealed unit. Before calling the installer, give the outside of the window a quick wipe down.

And replacing my knackered old 1970s vintage DG windows instantly improved comfort levels inside. Rooms are now much easier to heat.

Thanks for mentioning that as the condensation inside the glazing wasn't there this morning but I wondered if it was because I'd had the heating on last night. I couldn't really check if it was outside yesterday as it was an upstairs room and I didn't have anything to reach but if it happens again I'll borrow a ladder

Are they argon filled?
i was told ( but I’ve no idea if it’s correct) that argon can turn to moisture then back to gas

Some are, but the room would have to be fairly chilly for that to happen: about -186⁰C.