Double glazing vents .... open all the time?

[Lovethesea]

Help! Moved in the summer to a 1990's house with double glazing. I know houses need to breathe so we've had the vents open all the time on every window.

Now it's winter and we are a tad cold - do they still need to be open? Does the outside temperature make any difference or is it still all about the condensation inside (laundry, showers, cooking, breathing etc)? There was some black mould on the inside windows when we moved in which cleaned up easily enough.

if they are trickle vents then yes, you can leave them open all the time. Modern windows (if properly fitted) are pretty-well draught-free, which means ventilation-free, and this is one of the causes of condensation in modern houses.

The worst cause, of course, is draping wet washing around the home.

Ah well. More jumpers it is. I have a 3 year old who is allergic to layering up clothes. They are trickle vents but on a windy night they do have a breeze coming through!

The washing is draped on its ikea hanger in the dining room downstairs, far from ideal but it does.

on a windy nighty you can half-close them if you want.

If you have an extractor fan in the bathroom you can put the airer in there, with the door and window shut, and the fan running. This will prevent the moisture diffusing throughout the house.