Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Condensation on window

  • 18-01-2023 03:32PM
    #1
    djt0607
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭


    Hi,


    I have double glazed windows throughout the house. I don't know how long they've existed because I only moved unto the house 4 years ago.


    Anyways, in the bedroom, first thing in the morning when I wake, the whole window glass has condensation on it. Top to bottom. What does this mean? And is it a good thing?


    Also, the room temperature is quite cold (probably averaging 10 degrees Celsius or so) .. I assume this is partly due yo the radiator not heating to its max.. but even still...3ven though it is pretty hot, the room is still around that temp. What I noticed aswell is that there is alot of cold air coming from the window sill. I though it might be the seal is gone in the window (and it is) but, for now, I've put the e-type window seal around it so it's pretty draught proof tight. So I'm thinking it's definitely the glass itself. What do yee think? Is it time for new windows?

    Please help here as I'm absolutely lost as to what to do. Any advice is very very very welcome. Thanks.


    Dan



Comments

  • #2
    o1s1n
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,369 ✭✭✭✭o1s1n
    Master of the Universe


    A short term fix is to coat the inside of your window in a film of washing up liquid.

    Dry the window off, rub in washing up liquid, remove excess liquid with a window squeegee.

    Slightly more expensive fix is to get a dehumidifier. The water you're seeing on the window is already in the air in the room, it's just condensing on the windows due to the temperature difference outside.

    Final fix would be to look into getting new windows alright.

    You can also just leave windows open to air the room a bit but obviously not ideal with the cold at the moment!



  • #3
    MicktheMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,953 ✭✭✭MicktheMan


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120124973#Comment_120124973

    Awful advice. Only treating the symptoms and not the cause.

    OP, if you want a permanent long term solution then I suggest you have your heat loss as well as your ventilation requirements investigated. There are a number of inter-related issues causing the excessive condensation (and this is only the condensation you see!). If you are completely at sea then you might well benefit from a full heat loss and damp survey to get to the bottom of it. From experience, this is a real eye opener.



  • #4
    10-10-20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,872 ✭✭✭10-10-20


    If you room temp is dropping that low then you have a lot of excess moisture which needs to come out of the air, and it's sticking to the first available cold surface. If it was 6 degrees warmer then you'd have nearly half that amount. I'd echo Micks guidance and tell you that you need to look at more than just the windows. Buy some temperature and RH meters online and start looking at the RH value. Ventilate the room during the daytime also, that will lower the moisture load going into the night when the temps drop and might lessen the amount of condensation.

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120124973#Comment_120124973

    That's a bit silly adding washing-up liquid, you're actually helping the water to move into the lower parts of the window where it will be trapped under the cill. Hiding the problem is only going to make the condensation and RH worse in places like presses and walls and ceilings. You'll end up with mold on clothes and furnishings if you don't lower the RH. A dehumidifer will help though.



  • #5
    djt0607
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭djt0607


    Thanks for your comments. I must say that there is a wall vent and I've closed it due to the cold weather right now. Would this be causing it?



  • #6
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 42,868 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136263#Comment_120136263

    in a word, yes. its certainly adding to the problem.

    advise:

    1. get the rad fixed and heat the room to proper temps ie average 18 degrees throughout the time it occupied
    2. check to see if the vent hole is blocked. if so, unblock it. open teh vent when teh rooms in use. Close it when its not. If the grill is crap, change it for one that closes properly.
    3. make sure you aren't drying clothes internally in the room, or nearby.
    4. make sure all rooms which produce high levels of steam have mechanical ventilation with at least 15 minutes over run.
    5. get a caulk gun and seal up all around windows in the room. jamb, head and cill... especially all around the window board
    6. get someone in who can check and replace window seals, handles etc. and tighten / adjust where necessary. If a sash is seriously warped, change it.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    shoegirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,066 ✭✭✭shoegirl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120136263#Comment_120136263

    I was about to suggest that. Yes.

    Bought a house in August and surveyor had noted rot to the side of the patio door. He put it down to a leak in the door. During window and door repairs asked about this and guy said thats definitely not a leak. Eventually I went to replace the old vents with adjustable ones and discovered sheets of old pizza box cardboard lurking behind 3 of the 4 vents.

    Removed the cardboard, and within one day the condensation disappeared and my humidly level dropped by around 10% overall.



  • #8
    Newtown00
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11 ✭Newtown00


    Hi OP and all.

    How did you get on with your windows? I'm in a very similar situation to yourself. We moved into our home in October. Lots of condensation on windows and some mould popped up in different areas. There are no vents in the rooms, including the bathrooms which is definitely issues.

    One external wall is extremely cold so something to be done there.

    I've rang to book an air tightness/ heat loss test so get some starting point. The windows are double glazed and seem in good enough condition. Hoping I won't have to changed them just yet.

    Any advice greatly appreciated.



Advertisement