Double glazed windows - no vent and condensation

[Bunny2021]

Hi - our house has double glazing but none of the upstairs windows have vents. We’re getting condensation now that the weather is getting cooler, which in turn is turning the seal at the bottom slightly mouldy. Is there anything we can (other than cracking open a window or replacing the windows)?

Put peace lilies in every room, and /or unibond dehumidifiers tucked behind them!

Karcher vac the windows each morning, white vinegar wipe all the bottom seals.

You need to ventilate, no amount of peace lilies can replace proper ventilation

Usually double glazed windows where the openers are have something called a night vent. It is usually a gold/brass type of colour which sits in the recess under where the opener is. It is a double 'w' shape (not the best description!) and it means the window can still be locked but will allow a certain amount of ventillation in. As description you would usually have two different settings. One with a very small gap and the other slightly larger. Hope this helps!

You can have the vents added to existing windows. When we had the glazing replaced at our old house we were advised not to have them, as the window could be left on a "latch" setting. I regretted not getting them.

We added trickle vents to all our windows when we moved in. It cost about £40 in parts and took an evening at most.

Trickle vents are a nightmare. They let do much cold in. Just open the window a tad when you need to.

Thanks everyone!

@GeorgesMummy1- I’ll go and check our windows!

@Asdf12345 @mareep are these easy to install ourselves or do we need to get someone in? DH is pretty good at DIY but it doesn’t always go to plan!

A vent is just a hole with a cover. They can easily be added into the frames of plastic windows.

I am very annoyed by windows supplied without vents. It is so easy and inexpensive during build.

I would be inclined to ask around for your local plastic window, patio-door and front door repair person. There is bound to be one.

Mine do this, put on the latch for an hour or two when you wake up, airs the room and gets rid of the condensation

Im not sure why they’re needed. Can’t you just open the window.

@cloudtree

Trickle vents are a nightmare. They let do much cold in. Just open the window a tad when you need to.

Not our experience, in a 1960s house and now a 1920s house with 1970s additions. We keep ours open all the time. Most houses, and all older ones, need ventilation, if they don't get it they sulk and retaliate by being damp. Which makes a room feel far colder than the actual temperature of the room.

The only space without one is the vestibule because we didn't have one put in the new door, which we regret as it's the only fusty area left in the rooms where we changed windows/doors.We're going to put a vent in the wall.

I do agree, though, that it's also good to open windows properly for a while each day, of course, and close them in the 'open a crack' position at times if they have that sort of setting.

@PigletJohn

A vent is just a hole with a cover. They can easily be added into the frames of plastic windows.

I am very annoyed by windows supplied without vents. It is so easy and inexpensive during build.

I would be inclined to ask around for your local plastic window, patio-door and front door repair person. There is bound to be one.

We have had them put in all our new windows when they were installed. Our window guys were a bit reluctant to put them in because they said they couldn't get nice ones because only cheap ones got made these days, - but they're nice enough for us. We have them open all the time.

Most houses, and all older ones, need ventilation, if they don't get it they sulk and retaliate by being damp.

I understand that but surely most people have open windows for at least some of the day/night, other than perhaps in the depths of winter?

We are just having new windows put in and we deliberately didn’t put in trickle vents. We had them in our old house and they were just an annoying source of heat loss.

We got new double glazing after 10 years of condensation. They all came with vents and I can’t say I’ve ever noticed them causing cold. The new windows no longer have condensation on the inside, although we do often have to open them because the room gets way too hot. We now get condensation on the outside & while that’s less damaging in terms of damp its blood annoying.

Have a look at Positive Input Ventilation units - if you have a loft.

if you think a thousand pounds on a big electric fan is simpler than ventilators in windows.

Of course just opening windows for a period every day is the simplest solution.

Condensation is how you live, and really you should have some ventilation. Once your up pull backer your covers open the window and shut the door to air the room, go back a bit later, make the bed and shut the window

Well said mintyb
This is exactly what I do every day

Sorry mintyt

@cloudtree

Most houses, and all older ones, need ventilation, if they don't get it they sulk and retaliate by being damp.

I understand that but surely most people have open windows for at least some of the day/night, other than perhaps in the depths of winter?

You'd be surprised how many people don't. Friends of ours moved into a rented flat that was black with mold on the walls. The previous tenants had had the heating on full blast and every window closed all the time. Once the mold was cleaned off and the flat was properly ventilated, the mold never came back. A lot of people insulate and block all ventilation because they think that's the right thing to do to keep a place warm. In fact, that ups the damp, which makes it feel cold even when it's not. So they respond by insulating more and blocking more ventilation....'because draughts'....

I wouldn't add the trickle vents, they are shit & stop the noise reduction benifit of lovely double glazing.
Just open on the latch when needed