Can you recommend something to absorb window condensation?

[Collectorofcookbooks]

We’ve got wooden sash windows with shutters. On cold mornings there’s loads of condensation when I open the shutters and I’m worried about it damaging the wood.

Currently wiping it up every morning, but there’s got to be a better solution!

Any ideas?

Not cheap, but the Kärcher Window Vac was made for this very problem:
www.kaercher.com/uk/home-garden/window-vac.html

I was going to say the same as @PerkingFaintly

We have a Karcher vac for this very reason

It’s a big investment, but this year we installed a Nuaire Drimaster positive input ventilation unit in the loft. It’s been miraculous. The condensation in our house was so bad some mornings, every upstairs window from top to bottom was covered. Now, it’s 99% improved. This morning the windows just had a small amount of condensation at the bottom.

We tried everything, but short of having the windows thrown open all day in winter we just couldn’t solve it. Window vacs are useful (I bought one too!) but they don’t fix the underlying ventilation problem.

If you'd rather reduce the amount of condensation in the first place, you'll have to do reduce the moisture in the indoors air.

Dehumidifier will do help with that. Or you could open windows of eg the lounge for 10 mins last thing at night to let out some of your moist air.

I've found the dehumidifier used over a long period to be more effective, though..

Yes, a dehumidifier. Wouldn't be without one. Also second the window vac, but you still need a cloth to finish off.

I came on to say, a dehumidifier and a karcher window vac

Yes yes, if you're willing to spend big bucks, positive ventilation or mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems will be transforming.

Another alternative: these makers of plastic secondary glazing claim their product reduces condensation (because of the higher temperature of the surface).
ecoease.co.uk/reduce-condensation-with-secondary-glazing/
But I would think it's best used it with a dehumidifier, because all that moisture is going to go somewhere.

haworthia I’ve had a quick look at these as planning on doing similar. Could I ask you how much it cost to instal? Are they noisy? My sons bedroom is in the loft so it would have to go in the eaves I guess. Do they prevent condensation in the whole house or just upstairs? Sorry for all the questions!

We have a PIV unit. Had it installed last year. It’s imprived our condensation problem immensely. I think the into was about £300 and installation was a half day job by a professional. It’s not very noisy. Just a mild hum. Not dissimilar to the hum of a fridge. I would need to go in the eaves if you have a loft room, and the duct that leads into the house from the loft needs to be on the landing area of the first floor. Google Nuaire for more info.

Whyisitsodifficult The electrician who installed ours charged around £250 for installation I think. It is SO quiet, I’m really impressed. They need to be situated with the vent above the stairs so it blows air downstairs as well as up.

I’m not sure whether they’re suitable if you have a loft conversion though. The unit is pretty small but kind of ugly and I think it has to be suspended from the rafters?

Having said that, I bet if you contact the company I bought mine from, they’d be able to advise. Their customer service is really good: www.i-sells.co.uk/mob/main_page.php

Sorry for typos. It would need to go into the loft, not I. I’m sure you don’t need me to look in your loft 😄

Thanks haworthia and foofightersfan seems like you’re both impressed with your units. I shall investigate further, it would be lovely to ditch my Kärcher window vac as good as it is!

The condensation is only in 2 rooms, so not sure about a system for the whole house!

Will look into Karcher, thanks. I was wondering about silica gel - a friend suggested it - but think I might need far more than I could rustle up from shoe boxes!

Sorry collectorofcookbooks to hijack your post. Definitely recommend Kärcher it just sucks up the water they’re very good.

We have the same issue - have recently discover a window vac (life changing!) but we find if we keep the curtains open overnight it reduces the issue a lot- might be worth trying?

If it's very localised, you might be able to go the "silica gel" route using chemical moisture traps.

Lakeland do a good line: www.lakeland.co.uk/around-the-home/home-and-home-accessories/dehumidifiers-and-air-purifiers/moisture-traps/

But in the end, you're getting the condensation there because the moisture is in the house and has to go somewhere. The water's condensing out of the air when it finds a cold enough surface.

So you remove the water from the air (locally or whole house). Or you remove access to the cold surface (secondary glazing).

Or of course you remove the water after it condenses (wiping or window vac), as now.

Another who bought a karcher window vac on recommendation of mumsnet last year! I think I got mine for £35 in the black Friday sales.

It's so quick and easy, I rave about it to everyone

another one with a Karcher!

No worries @whyisitsodifficult

We only have shutters not curtains (the one shuttered window that has curtains doesn’t get condensation) so should we add curtains?

Karcher starting to sound pretty good. Will check out the Lakeland strips too, thank you

It's pretty common to find condensation behind windows with curtains.

Do I understand right that most of your windows with just shutters don't have condensation? Just two?

On what you've said so far, it seems unlikely the curtains are making the difference.

Think about what you're using the rooms for, and what impact that's having on moisture, ventilation and temperature of glass surface. That'll help you diagnose why it's these two, not the others.

we only get condensation in the rooms with curtains but that could also be to do with the fact that they're bedrooms and upstairs.

Downstairs we don't get any condensation (Dutch shutters).

I’ve just bought a Karcher window vacuum through Amazon and it’s brilliant. We have wooden sashes with singles pane glass, wooden shutters in some rooms and blinds in others. They all get condensation and the Karcher vac makes a quick job of getting rid of all the water.