Could better windows increase wall condensation?

[AmyByTheTrain]

We have condensation issues, especially overnight in winter in our bedrooms. In the morning, the windows are an absolute waterfall. Our external walls are solid with no insulation, so also get cold and we get a bit of condensation on the inside of them, too, especially in corners.

I'm thinking about getting better-insulated windows that wouldn't get as much condensation.

But then I thought... if we're still generating the same amount of moisture overnight, and it's not condensing on the windows, is it even more likely to then condense on the walls instead?

If so, that might be even worse.

Yes, it will! So you will need to ensure adequate ventilation (really important for a solid walled house anyway).

Trickle vents will make a significant difference

I hadn't thought of that. Do trickle vents let in much noise when they are open, though? Unfortunately, we live on a noisy street, and if they do, then leaving them open while sleeping could be a problem.

It did in my old block of flats. They were cold before, but once the double glazing was fitted (not by choice, it was have them or move out), they turned into cold and mouldy flats.

I'd put your money into dehumidifying first, as the sort of money you're thinking of with windows is significant - it might be that permanent dehumidifying is expensive, but the house would feel much warmer without the water features in every room.

Yep, the moisture is going to condense on the coldest surfaces. If the inside of the glass isn't cold (because of super efficient double glazing) the water will condense elsewhere.

Ventilation, and dehumidification, will help

Just open your windows every morning, whatever the weather, and keep open as long as tolerable. This lets the moist air out and the dry air in. You want a nice through draft. Solid walled houses don't function well if all sealed up, breathability and airflow are key.

A dehumidifier in each bedroom will solve all your problems. They were game-changing for us.

You need trickle vents

Opening windows is far better and cheaper than using a dehumidifier!

Millions of people or their loved ones suffer executive dysfunction, physical disabilities, dementia and many other conditions which make systematic jobs like 'just open the windows' hard though, thats why easier options where invented.

This is also a night issue and the OP clarified at the beginning that she is sensitive to external noise never mind just sleep with a fully opened window, many people do not like leaving their windows open for security reasons too.

And if the air outside is just as moist / damp what then ?

dehumidifier will solve the problem when its really cold.

The trickle vents definitely help and you could leave them open during the day - they do let in some noise so you'd have to experiment to see if that was disruptive at night. You could have a dehumidifier for bedrooms overnight.

At night it also helps to have bedroom doors ajar rather than fully closed so you are not 'trapping' the night time condensation from your breath.

We had a problem with condensation in one room last year (no heating in there, now resolved) and we used one of these which was brilliant (and cheap).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AERO-Ultra-Absorbent-Dehumidifier-Condensation-Recyclable/dp/B091C4L2GQ/ref=sr_1_10?crid=19N7A4XOGKIVZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YqBb5UBGIKELwjTnNXYpZ_zkdSJjeKs9WD8wJExhPhFudboUUc_FSLl6U1bX1did8FbGvkLIgzYYI9FatJ9DCKhKxTjb8gh2yDgO14sSpMMD6HtmJwbC2kRxDizMj7efLq5pJygl9UbwJu-h9xxnZ0sdXiXqYW8YHApmLZ4O38VVDXsMXreOTAKc4_veMNGju4pHd1KypeNt5wUXmA31qVuF_dQEReTo0Xp9PM6RXnc.gCY3DZf3UvzCaxvAG_uX4721SPfYcoL-G-iyv4iGXCI&dib_tag=se&keywords=dehumidifier&qid=1709714173&sprefix=dehu%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-10&th=1

Cold air is much drier than warm air, so even when it's raining outside, unless the actual rain is coming in, replacing warm moist indoor air with fresh cold air will reduce moisture levels indoors, and dry air is easier to heat than moist air. The balance to aim for is it have windows open for long enough for a decent air exchange, but not so long to cool the inner walls/fabric of the house (things that act as heat sinks, basically).

If you have a attic, have a look at piv, we got a nuaire piv. We have had no wet windows since having one installed for a number of years now

To clarify, I'm specifically thinking about condensation overnight in the bedrooms and mould it causes.

We have a dehumidifier upstairs and downstairs and they definitely help the overall humidity throughout the house. However, other family members refuse to have them in bedrooms overnight (or even running overnight) because they are "too noisy." (The one we have upstairs is actually very quiet as far as dehumidifiers go.)

A few years ago, I tried the "open the windows in the morning" thing. It helped, but it took a couple hours to shift all the window condensation. At that point, I hadn't yet realised the water was condensing on the walls, too, so I'm not sure how quickly that cleared. I decided I'd rather just wipe out the windows in the morning than open them for that long.

Also a few years ago, I tried moisture traps in the windows, both the tray kind and the disc kind. They collected water, but the windows were still super wet, so I stopped.

Last winter, I had the brilliant idea that maybe I could stop the moisture closer to the source, before it got as far as the windows, and put a moisture trap on my bedside table. Again, it collected water, but the windows were still super wet and there was still condensation on the walls in external corners.

Leaving bedroom doors open might help... but that's another hard "no" from the rest of the family 😂

We do have a loft and I dream of a PIV, but that's probably not going to happen anytime soon.

So, basically I just wipe out the windows and certain wall corners every winter morning and that's life.

Except, the double-glazing is shot on the windows so we're thinking of replacing them, but then I thought maybe not if that's just going to make it harder to keep mould off the walls.

I should add, just for fun, that the main condensation on the windows isn't on the glass. The frames are uninsulated aluminium, which gets freezing cold in winter and burning hot on sunny summer days. So although there is some condensation on the glass, it's mostly on the frames.

Thanks for all the ideas.

Have you got airbricks? They feel old fashioned and somewhat low tech, but they make a big difference to the air flow, particularly in solid walled houses.

Yes, each bedroom has an airbrick. (Other rooms have them too.)

I have trickle vents,they make no difference at all
Heating the cold walls is the only way to help condensation

@Diyextension even when there's more than 100% humidity outside (I.e. mist you can see) the relative humidity is less and therefore always worthwhile opening windows to dry the house out.

I watched a video that explained it all. Had humidity monitors and an equation etc.

Get yourself a window vac to dry off the windows and the walls.

That plus a shock-airing of the house (there's a German term for that!) of 10-20 minutes every day AND the moisture traps will make a big difference.

Keep the bathroom door closed when bathing or showering and the window open if possible.

Keep lids on pans, open the kitchen windows. Dry washing in a room with the window open locked and a dehumidifier running.

Think about everything that creates moisture in the house (it won't just be breathing overnight) and come up with a plan to react to that.

Who wants to have windows open every day when its freezing cold in winter ?

solid walls are always going to be cold in winter. It sounds like the household between you produce a lot of moisture,

New windows will probably reduce the amount of condensation you get on them , but the moisture will still be in the house so might mean more on the cold walls. Seems like you have tried everything else so the options are. Windows open everyday but thats not solving the problem just removing the condensation once its formed or a PIV system which would cure the problem of condensation before it can form .

we don’t have any issues with condensation but if we did a good air recirculating system would be the top of my list.

Who wants to have windows open every day when it's freezing cold in winter ?

My windows are opened every day. For as long as is tolerable.

solid walls are always going to be cold in winter.

No, they're not, they're great heat sinks if they're dry. Decent ventilation and reduced indoor humidity facilitates that.

Who wants to have windows open every day when it's freezing cold in winter?

People who want to reduce moisture in the air in their home

People who know that dryer air is cheaper to heat

People who know that a 10-20 minute shock airing doesn't really affect the temperature in their house.

People who know that airing a house like this and being proactive with humidity control is a cheap and effective way of dealing with moisture in the air at home

People who can't afford to buy and/or run a dehumidifier

People who like fresh air, not damp air

People who like their house to smell fresh without using too many artificial air fresheners

People who like to get rid of germy air at home (most relevant when there's a bug at home)

I'm sure there's loads of over people who like to air their house and have other reasons.

I know it won't work everywhere for everyone but for many, many people it's a great thing to do.

The dehumidifier needs to be running continuously to make the difference