condensation on windows

[stevewool]

well its that time of year when you open the curtains and the windows are damp, fed up already drying them so what can we do to stop it happening, yes the heating is on but not when we go to bed, the door is left ajar, the window is not open, so what else can i do to stop it , its a double glazzed window too

[Michael Parnham]

With double glazing Steve, they should not have condesation on the inside!

[lastlid]

Try not breathing at night. :biggrin:

[stevewool]

Try not breathing at night. :biggrin:

funny you say that, but that is what causes the problem

[grahamw48]

Excess moisture in the air with nowhere to go will just condense out on the nearest cold surface.

Produce less moisture and allow air changes...as in, open the kitchen window a little when boiling kettle etc, and bathroom one when showering or bathing.
Remember to leave the bathroom door and window open for a while AFTER bathing to get the damp air OUT.

Help prevent cold surfaces by insulating (ie..double-glazing/wall insulation/loft insulation). :smile:

[stevewool]

i use to leave the doors open and the bathroom window open but next mrning the doors are shut and the windows shut too,my next plan is buying a dehumidifier, but cheap

[grahamw48]

Some houses can be prone to condensation despite normal measures (above) having been taken, in which case a dehumidifier may be the only answer.

[stevewool]

Some houses can be prone to condensation despite normal measures (above) having been taken, in which case a dehumidifier may be the only answer.

i think thats the answer, but i must add this, the other night Ems says do you want a drink steve, coffee please so of she went to make it the next few minutes i cold hear the kettle boiling and boiling and boiling, steam coming out of the kitchen into the other rooms creeping along the ceiling, EM what are you doing, waiting for the kettle to switch of she says, have you ever had a coffee in a steam room, the off button on the kettle did not connect but i had to ask how long would she had waited for:NoNo::NoNo:

[grahamw48]

Hmm. That' not going to help. :Erm:

[imagine]

i think thats the answer, but i must add this, the other night Ems says do you want a drink steve, coffee please so of she went to make it the next few minutes i cold hear the kettle boiling and boiling and boiling, steam coming out of the kitchen into the other rooms creeping along the ceiling, EM what are you doing, waiting for the kettle to switch of she says, have you ever had a coffee in a steam room, the off button on the kettle did not connect but i had to ask how long would she had waited for:NoNo::NoNo:

sounds like you need a new kettle if that one isn't switching off when it should,
bennefit is less electric used and less steam

[lastlid]

Or go for a whistling kettle....:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Iani]

You can't get rid of condensation really, it's just part of living, and as Graham says, it will condense on the coldest surface.
I'd be thankful it's condensing on the windows, because the alternative is a lot worse (Walls or furniture) and would lead to mould.

The only ways of avoiding it, are keeping the temperatures high enough to stop condensation (not practical, not only would it be like living in the tropics, the heating bill would be crazy), or opening a window to let the hot moist air out (This is what the "experts" agree...........and no doubt they are so highly paid for their expertise they could afford the subsequent heating bills).

The only reason we don't get so much condensation in summer, is because the outside temperature is high enough to prevent windows being super cooled areas (proof is if you get a bottle of beer out the fridge in summer -see what happens to the bottle), and also that people are more likely to have windows open.

I just wipe my windows down of a morning with a tea towel, it seems to work ok

[imagine]

i don't get any condensation at all, whether heating is on or not, double glazing wall and loft well insulated, kitchen extractor fan when cooking , bathroom extractor fan when using shower, i very rarely open windows

[stevewool]

yep thats what i use teatowels at the moment

[stevie c]

As graham said I purchased a de humidifier for the same problem & I'm happy to say it has cured the problem.... But it means parting with money Steve :icon_lol:

[lastlid]

Problem could be all the "hot air" in the house? :biggrin: Solution would be to stop gassing!

[stevewool]

As graham said I purchased a de humidifier for the same problem & I'm happy to say it has cured the problem.... But it means parting with money Steve :icon_lol:

what yer saying Stevie, i dont mind spending the odd £1 here or there, i could get 5 teatowels for that, yes they may be thin but i dont expect quality just quantity:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

[stevewool]

Problem could be all the "hot air" in the house? :biggrin: Solution would be to stop gassing!

i dont call it hot air i call it panting:do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it::do_it:

[stevie c]

what yer saying Stevie, i dont mind spending the odd £1 here or there, i could get 5 teatowels for that, yes they may be thin but i dont expect quality just quantity:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:
A man after my own heart Steve :icon_lol:

[philphil61]

hmmm as others have already mentioned most sensible answers - so I will just add

we live near a lake and the property is built on reclaimed marshland so a very damp area - we suffered from extreme damp and had double glazing installed but the damp remained. After a year or so we purchased a dehumidifier and left it running on full for a few days - each day or so emptying the full container. After a few weeks the collected water was less - I believe that because the whole house had become damp it took this extra "usage" to dry out the whole home.

Now we switch it on occasionally - no steamed up windows etc

Hope this helps

Just found this link for you - maybe an idea to consider

http://www.nationaltoolhireshops.co.uk/product/drieaze-dehumidifier-1200-for-hire/

[stevewool]

having just read what you have said philphil61 a brain wave just hit me, this year with all the rain we had my cellar flooded for a few weeks only about 6-9 inches we bailed it out but came back again, all is ok now but i wonder if that has anything to do with it, looks like ebay is being switched on for that dehumidifier:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[philphil61]

don't go spending all that hard earned

look at the overall situation - how often do you get flooded? are you near a river (damp area)?

did you claim on home insurance for the flood? will your home insurance cover the cost of dehumidifier or help towards the cost of outright purchase to prevent long term damage?

evaluate the size like you would central heating (don't go to small) consider humidity controller against an always on - i'm no expert

[lastlid]

Problem could be all the "hot air" in the house? :biggrin: Solution would be to stop gassing!

When I meant stop gassing I meant stop talking......just in case you thought I meant something other than that....:biggrin:

[imagine]

having just read what you have said philphil61 a brain wave just hit me, this year with all the rain we had my cellar flooded for a few weeks only about 6-9 inches we bailed it out but came back again, all is ok now but i wonder if that has anything to do with it, looks like ebay is being switched on for that dehumidifier:xxgrinning--00xx3:

i think that could well be the root of the problem with the condensation

[stevewool]

:action-smiley-081: is it this gassing, or this:76: gassing, there is no chance of Ems talking me to death in the bedroom soon as her head hits the pillow shes off, any :Sex: i have to hide the pillows:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[stevewool]

i think that could well be the root of the problem with the condensation

i forgot all about the flood, funny how you forget about all the goodtimes:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:i think i have a picture of Em bailling out the celler

[lastlid]

:action-smiley-081: is it this gassing, or this:76: gassing, there is no chance of Ems talking me to death in the bedroom soon as her head hits the pillow shes off, any :Sex: i have to hide the pillows:xxgrinning--00xx3:

I actually meant this :76:....:biggrin:

[grahamw48]

i think that could well be the root of the problem with the condensation

It certainly isn't going to help. The fabric of the building is like a sponge in such situations and will probably take ages to dry out naturally. ...as with a traditionally plastered new building. :smile:

Same as if you have a car letting in water...always misted up when you go out to it in the morning.

[les_taxi]

I would recommend doing a full reformat if you are still experiencing condensation on windows,I have yet to find an anti virus program to solve this:biggrin:

[grahamw48]

:icon_lol::xxgrinning--00xx3:

[imagine]

It certainly isn't going to help. The fabric of the building is like a sponge in such situations and will probably take ages to dry out naturally. ...as with a traditionally plastered new building. :smile:

Same as if you have a car letting in water...always misted up when you go out to it in the morning.

:balaicoule::yeahthat::iagree:

[Michael Parnham]

Steve, I would buy a dehumidifier and use it in your celler for a few weeks, also another benifit could be that as your celler dries out it will make your house warmer cutting down your heating bills.