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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Window condensation

21 replies

BringBackFoilWrappers · 09/12/2022 07:55

Hi I just want to know if there is anything I can do about my window condensation.
We recently moved into a new house, it seems worse since the temperature dip and putting the heating on but basically every morning there is a thick layer of condensation. Mostly upstairs but now getting it downstairs since it's gotten below zero.

The worst thing is when I wipe it away it just comes back!
Only seems to go away as the day goes on.
Even leaving my windows on the latch all night seems to make no difference.
Is there something wrong with my windows or is this just normal and I was lucky not to get it in my old house?

Window condensation
OP posts:
ChristmasCrackler · 09/12/2022 07:58

I haven't tried it yet but i just read an article that popped up suggesting that you wipe the window over with a cloth that has a drop of washing up liquid on it. No idea if it works but planning to give it a go. I generally open the windows a bit for a little while after Ive wiped them and that helps too.

midgetastic · 09/12/2022 08:05

Window vac to suck it up ?

Original poster
BringBackFoilWrappers · 09/12/2022 08:06

@midgetastic

I have a window vac but it doesn't do much different from using a towel to be honest.
I'm desparate so might try the washing up liquid trick lol.

OP posts:
middleager · 09/12/2022 08:10

We have a dehumidifyer, karcher vac/towels and those little plastic pots with balls in.
Also, we air the room when possible (not easy in the winter, I know).
We still get condensation after all that - it's just this house, but we keep wiping because we also have a mould issue!
Our last house was not like this, so I empathise.

CountdownCat · 09/12/2022 08:11

Is it just at the bottom? Our horse and windows are old (house 1900, so no insulation) and windows around 35 years old we think.
Every morning in winter the windows would be fully, top to bottom wet with condensation, until we bought a dehumidifier which has stopped it completely in our room. Need one for DDs room but I'm worried about her being able to sleep over the noise.
Nothing else worked, we're having new windows in January but I'm just concerned now it'll push the condensations to the coldest spot on the walls, but hoping the dehumidifier will combat this

CountdownCat · 09/12/2022 08:12

House not horse Hmm impressive horse being that old!!

Greeneyes887766 · 09/12/2022 08:14

I am far from an expert and you should do some research but condensation happens when humid air hits a cold surface and turns into droplets of liquid - so you need to work out how the air is more humid in your new house than your old one. Increased humidity is caused by lots of things - drying clothing indoors is a big one, cooking another, showering and even breathing! You either need to lower humidity (hard to do in winter when even the air outside is humid), by minimising things that increase humidity or by using a dehumidifier or you need to get rid of the dampness collected by humidity. It's easy to sort on a window (if a pain), more difficult to do in interior parts of the house that can result in mould due to the moisture.

Original poster
BringBackFoilWrappers · 09/12/2022 08:15

It's just the bottom on most of the windows to be honest apart from the bathroom and the one next to the bathroom.
We do open windows a lot but obviously because its so cold can't have them open all day.
I will probably get some of those Dehumidifier pots as they might help.
Also in the spring we do want to get trickle vents so maybe that will reduce some of it.
The house is fairly old, about 30 to 40 years.

OP posts:
Timezones · 09/12/2022 08:17

We get it much worse than your photo - really wet. We have double glazing. Leave the windows open for hours but there's still some water. I don't know why some houses are more prone to this than others. How bad it is depends on how big a difference there is between the inside and outside temperatures, and of course how many people use the room (the water comes from people).

Itisbetter · 09/12/2022 08:21

Have you thought of minimising water in the house? Are you drying towels and clothes inside? Are you putting lids on pans? Do you squeegee the shower and open the windows afterwards? Do you air your rooms in the morning? Where do you hang wet coats/umbrellas?

Original poster
BringBackFoilWrappers · 09/12/2022 08:33

Hi.
We don't produce much moisture so pretty sure it's not that as never had a problem in the old house.
Out most of the day but still get it in the mornings, never get it in the evenings.
Cooking we have an extractor fan and open the windows, I don't dry clothes on radiators but do have a dryer. However windows are open and we don't get it much downstairs. I only dry clothes on the weekends.

Even with the bathroom window and upstairs windows all open in the mornings or on the latch it still happens so a bit clueless really.
I think it must be to do with the house and the windows themselves as it was happening much less before the temperature dipped.
I do also squeegee the shower.. I think maybe we will get an extractor fan in the bathroom as well and see if that makes a difference.
The house also retains heat very poorly, the heating will be on for 2 hours and it will only go up from 16c to 18c.

OP posts:
PassThePud · 09/12/2022 08:45

I had one of these fitted. I was sceptical, but the condensation disappeared over night, as did my asthma. It's also meant to lower heating bills as it helps to circulate the heat more efficiently.

Abra1t · 09/12/2022 08:46

CountdownCat · 09/12/2022 08:11

Is it just at the bottom? Our horse and windows are old (house 1900, so no insulation) and windows around 35 years old we think.
Every morning in winter the windows would be fully, top to bottom wet with condensation, until we bought a dehumidifier which has stopped it completely in our room. Need one for DDs room but I'm worried about her being able to sleep over the noise.
Nothing else worked, we're having new windows in January but I'm just concerned now it'll push the condensations to the coldest spot on the walls, but hoping the dehumidifier will combat this

Sadly our new windows are just as condensation-attracting.

we run a dehumidifier and wipe down. May try washing-up liquid hack.

Frasecam · 09/12/2022 08:48

We have just moved into a new house too and the windows have been dripping with condensation. This is what we were told when we asked about the condensation on the windows:

"Moisture condensation often forms on the inside of windows and doors in new homes during the first heating season because of the drying out of the lumber and concrete foundation as well as by your daily cooking, bathing, drying clothes, and breathing."

Hoping it gets better the more the house settles. 🙂

Hiddenmnetter · 09/12/2022 08:52

It doesn’t really matter if it’s an old or new house- window condensation is a fact of the warmer, wetter air inside the house coming into contact with a cold window (because it’s so f’ing cold outside) and then the warm air becoming cold and unable to hold the moisture.

either stop the windows getting cold (not possible), or make the air dry (dehumidify/air out with cold air from outside), or just wipe it up and think that in a few weeks it should be ok again.

Itisbetter · 09/12/2022 08:55

Or create a barrier between the cold glass and the warm wet inside air, like a curtain?

ChaToilLeam · 09/12/2022 08:56

We get this in the winter months. Clothes have to be dried inside most of the time due to the weather and we don’t have a drier. I air the rooms regularly and wipe up condensation. Heating on for a while morning and evening so it doesn’t get too cold. One wall in the bedroom started to get mould but I moved the furniture out from the wall a little to allow better air circulation and it solved the problem.

stickygotstuck · 09/12/2022 09:00
  1. on for a couple of hours a day, essential (and for longer) if you dry your washing indoors. I am evangelical about them! Haven't had to wipe condensation off windows in years.
  1. Open the windows, even if just a crack for 10 minutes every day.
stickygotstuck · 09/12/2022 09:02

That should say Dehumidifier on*!

fucketyfuckwit · 09/12/2022 09:08

Is it a brand new house?

Then answer is there is too much moisture in the air in your house.

But a digital humidity meter (£5-10) and ensure the humidity level stays below 60%.

When cooking, open a window and use the extractor fan. Keep kitchen door closed until the air is dry again.

Same with bathroom, after bathing keep the door closed and window open (or extractor on) until it is dry.

When we sleep we breathe out about 1 pint in moisture (per adult). Open the bedroom window for at least 20 mins each morning preferably until the windows are dry ( you can give them a helping hand).

I work in property and have learnt huge amounts about how to avoid mould and condensation over the years.

Also invest in a good dehumidifier. It will also give you some heat.

Nik2015 · 09/12/2022 09:35

PassThePud · 09/12/2022 08:45

I had one of these fitted. I was sceptical, but the condensation disappeared over night, as did my asthma. It's also meant to lower heating bills as it helps to circulate the heat more efficiently.

I like the sound of this. Thanks for sharing!

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