Window condensation

Author
Discussion

sidekickdmr

Original Poster:

5,065 posts

205 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Hey all!

Ok so we have lived in this house for almost 6 months now, so a mix of summer and starting to be winter.

Since we have moved in we have had a bit of a condensation problem.

When I say problem, it's nothing at all apart from the windows looking like this, at the moment it's almost constantly, in the summer it was just the mornings.



What's causing it?

How to stop it?

Many thanks

Kieran

moles

1,794 posts

243 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Is that inside or on the outer pane of glass?, if inside you have moisture issues inside the house either damp or you are producing too much-breathing (can't do a lot about that) or drying clothes all contribute try opening some more windows or get a dehumidifier.

wolfracesonic

6,940 posts

126 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Contact a window company or local builder and see about having some trickle vents retro fitted.

furrywoolyhatuk

682 posts

153 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Get a dehumidifier, just make sure it has a good capacity so your not emptying it every 2 hours.

sidekickdmr

Original Poster:

5,065 posts

205 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Its inside the glass.

Ok so we do have a bit of a damp issue in one of the bedrooms, nothing more than a few 50P sized patches on the wall (just look slightly oily, not wet to touch)

Whats the long term solution?

We cant buy 3 dehumidifiers and have them running for the rest of our lives.

The windows are also left on "latch" (locked in the very slightly open postision) for ventilation, would this act like a trickle vent and improve things or is this making it worse?

Thanks

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
De-humidifiers are definitely not the solution.

You need airflow. As someone has already correctly said 'trickle vents' would probably be the first and easiest way of addressing it.

If that doesn't do it then a larger 'black hole' vent would be advisable.

Finally if the problem is severe then look at a Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) system.

Of course, all the above should be combined with looking at reducing sources of moisture; adequate bathroom ventilation, clothes drying etc

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
If you are leaving windows ajar already (as I've just read) then yes that would act as a trickle vent.

Do you have adequate bathroom ventilation? Is the Mrs doing loads of drying in the house?

When we had a new born and so were doing lots of washing we had this problem. Less washing and the installation of powerful 'in-line' extractors in the bathrooms sorted our issue out. But PIV has lots of benefits so I wouldn't mind going that route if I had to...

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Do you have good extractors in your bathrooms?


Evoluzione

10,345 posts

242 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
sidekickdmr said:
Its inside the glass.
What exactly do you mean by this?

FlipFlopGriff

7,144 posts

246 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
If its in between the 2 panels then the panels have failed. I suspect not looking at the pattern of the condensation.
If you go dehumidifier then go for a desiccant one as they also kick out some heat and operate at lower temperatures.
FFG

Gingerbread Man

9,171 posts

212 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
From experience, when the problems within the double glazing. The glass panel has been compromised. Normally two panes separated by air (gas?) gap. This gap is no longer isolated with the panel and has been breeched. You get companies who specialise in repairing this exact issue. Otherwise it's best to replace the glazed unit.

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Evoluzione said:
sidekickdmr said:
Its inside the glass.
What exactly do you mean by this?
Ah, I see what you are getting at...

OP can you confirm if the moisture is between the paines or running down the inside so you can touch it?

Bluebarge

4,519 posts

177 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Evoluzione said:
sidekickdmr said:
Its inside the glass.
What exactly do you mean by this?
What he said. If it's a double glazed unit and the condensation is on the inside pane facing outwards (not on the side facing into the room) then the seal has failed and you are probably looking at a replacement window.

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Bluebarge said:
Evoluzione said:
sidekickdmr said:
Its inside the glass.
What exactly do you mean by this?
What he said. If it's a double glazed unit and the condensation is on the inside pane facing outwards (not on the side facing into the room) then the seal has failed and you are probably looking at a replacement window.
yes

But I suspect this isn't the case as all four windows are showing moisture. Unusual for them to all fail at once.

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all

sidekickdmr

Original Poster:

5,065 posts

205 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Yes sorry to clarify, its not inside the glass, its on the inside of the window (wet to touch inside room).

The windows are all brand new and no seals comprimised.

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

242 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
DoubleSix said:
paines
nono You'll get yourself reported to the Spelling Police. wink

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
Evoluzione said:
DoubleSix said:
paines
nono You'll get yourself reported to the Spelling Police. wink
laugh

Do you know what, I actually edited that as someone else wrote "paines" and I foolishly doubted myself!! Had it correct initially.... wobble

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

242 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
sidekickdmr said:
Yes sorry to clarify, its not inside the glass, its on the inside of the window (wet to touch inside room).

The windows are all brand new and no seals compromised.
Then you have a slight damp problem which you need to address, plenty of advice on that in the thread. Prevention being better than (dehumidifier) cure.
In what room were the windows in that were pictured?

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all
NotNormal said:
Anyone have any experience of this http://www.unibond.co.uk/en/moisture-absorber/aero...
I can't read you link here but I suspect it's another product that treats the symptoms and not the source.