Window condensation

VonLuck

I'm currently living in an apartment and have noticed with the colder mornings that condensation is building up on the inside of my bedroom window, right at the bottom. As a result, some white mould has started to grow on the timber window frame, so it's a bit of a problem.

It's a reasonably modern apartment and very well insulated. I rarely have to turn on the radiator during the winter it's so warm. The windows have trickle vents at the top so there is some ventilation. I usually have the windows open for most of the year, but close them during the winter months.

What could be the source of the problem? The only thing I can think of is that we have blinds installed in the window reveal which means that the trickle vent can only get air from below as the blind box is in front of it, but I can't see that being a major issue.

Any ideas? Thanks.

listermint

VonLuck wrote: »

I'm currently living in an apartment and have noticed with the colder mornings that condensation is building up on the inside of my bedroom window, right at the bottom. As a result, some white mould has started to grow on the timber window frame, so it's a bit of a problem.

It's a reasonably modern apartment and very well insulated. I rarely have to turn on the radiator during the winter it's so warm. The windows have trickle vents at the top so there is some ventilation. I usually have the windows open for most of the year, but close them during the winter months.

What could be the source of the problem? The only thing I can think of is that we have blinds installed in the window reveal which means that the trickle vent can only get air from below as the blind box is in front of it, but I can't see that being a major issue.

Any ideas? Thanks.

1. When cleaning it just be careful id actually recommend putting on a face mask . Because mould is bad news for the lungs.

2. It's caused by your body . Basically your breath, your sweat the vapour coming from you . Also if you have wet clothes drying in the room that's another source and cooking. Anything creating moisture. It hits the cold glass as vapour and turns back to water in the form of condensation.

Ventilation is the only key to solving it. Make sure vents are clean. And clear and open. Some apartments have inadequate ventilation some have just the right amount but if people are drying clothes inside it defeats the planned ventilation amount.

Use clotjest dryer machine or put outside.

sydthebeat

You have a lack of ventilation problem.

VonLuck

Hmm. It's not exactly a large room so I'm surprised a single trickle vent isn't enough. Not much I can do ventilation wise, beyond opening the window at night which isn't really a runner.

Should I invest in a dehumidifier?

Lumen

VonLuck wrote: »

Not much I can do ventilation wise, beyond opening the window at night which isn't really a runner.

Why not? Within the limits of your opening mechanism, you can experiment with the amount of "open area" required to prevent condensation, and then you'll know exactly what your ventilation requirement is.

You can use a dehumidifier but that will create only dry air, not fresh air. It may also use a lot of electricity and heat the room, which is either good or bad depending on what your preferred temperature is.

My dessicant dehumidifers use almost 2kW on high setting and are quite noisy.

Oh, also the small room makes the problem worse, not better. The thing causing the moisture is you, not the room.

VonLuck

Lumen wrote: »

Why not? Within the limits of your opening mechanism, you can experiment with the amount of "open area" required to prevent condensation, and then you'll know exactly what your ventilation requirement is.

I was just thinking about the room getting cold and the noise from traffic. It's not an ideal solution to open a window while I'm trying to sleep unfortunately.

Lumen wrote: »

You can use a dehumidifier but that will create only dry air, not fresh air. It may also use a lot of electricity and heat the room, which is either good or bad depending on what your preferred temperature is.

My dessicant dehumidifers use almost 2kW on high setting and are quite noisy.

That's true. Although I did see these "silent" dehumidifiers on Amazon, but not sure of their efficacy.

Lumen wrote: »

Oh, also the small room makes the problem worse, not better. The thing causing the moisture is you, not the room.

Oh I know it's me causing it, but I figured that the open area in the trickle vent was proportional to the room size. A similar sized vent in a larger room would be a greater problem I would have thought?

Lumen

VonLuck wrote: »

I was just thinking about the room getting cold and the noise from traffic. It's not an ideal solution to open a window while I'm trying to sleep unfortunately.

but

VonLuck wrote: »

I usually have the windows open for most of the year, but close them during the winter months.

Is the traffic noisier in the winter? It might be noisier when it's wet, but it rains in summer too.

I'm guessing the problem is purely that you don't want to make the room cold, but that's how buildings are designed to work in Ireland. Cold air comes in with high relative humidity, is warmed by the heating, and that heating drops the relative humidity even though there is the same amount of moisture in the air.

Otherwise, if you have high relative humidity then water will condense on any slightly cold surface. The window actually isn't the worst place for it to condense, since you can at least see it. Otherwise, it may condense in nooks and crannies where you can't see it, and then you have unhealthy mould out of sight.

Calahonda52

Not an ideal solution but here goes.
Clean off the mould and dry the frame, maybe with a hair dryer and get it all nice dry and clean.
Then get some clear gorilla packing tape and tape the window frame from the bottom up, including the bottom fixed piece, up to the glass
Then, in theory, the water will collect on the sill board so you can put a towel or something there to collect it
No ideal but....

Klopp

I have this problem in one bedroom were there is no ventilation. The last couple of weeks i have noticed the windows ( new ) full of condensation in the morning. I open the two windows for an hour but i am also looking at getting a vent fitted in the room.

starlit

The karcher window cleaner is the best thing to use when the condensation gets bad on the windows in the morning. It will mop up all the moisture. A dehumidifier is better to improve the humidity and moisture in a room. Clean the window of mold as well as damp weather can make it worse. Opening a window isn't enough to air room you need to clean around window and get rid of anything on it. Damp and frosty weather makes it worse.

VonLuck

Lumen wrote: »

but



Is the traffic noisier in the winter? It might be noisier when it's wet, but it rains in summer too.

I'm guessing the problem is purely that you don't want to make the room cold, but that's how buildings are designed to work in Ireland. Cold air comes in with high relative humidity, is warmed by the heating, and that heating drops the relative humidity even though there is the same amount of moisture in the air.

Otherwise, if you have high relative humidity then water will condense on any slightly cold surface. The window actually isn't the worst place for it to condense, since you can at least see it. Otherwise, it may condense in nooks and crannies where you can't see it, and then you have unhealthy mould out of sight.

Sorry, I meant during the day the windows are open year round. The apartment is well aired generally because of that.

Is there much to be concerned about if it's just the window I just regularly clean the mould? I mean, is it something I should be worried about if it went untreated e.g. inhaling mould spores while I'm sleeping?