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Condensation on Windows

Bill_49
Bill_49 Member Posts: 25
in THE MAIN WALL
Condensation on Windows, What does it indicate.

Comments

  • Barry Pines
    Barry Pines Member Posts: 4
    Condensation

    Generally means either too much humidity or Carbon Monoxide
  • Ken_8
    Ken_8 Member Posts: 1,640
    If it's a steam system ...

    The air vent on the radiator(s) are blown or a system leak is nearby.

    Unless of course, it is Wednesday night, pasta night and you're having spaghetti for dinner?

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  • GMcD
    GMcD Member Posts: 477
    Condensation on windows

    It can indicate many things:

    Crappy windows with a low thermal resistance.

    Too high an indoor humidity (explore causes: cooking, laundry dryer vent leaking, too many plants, too many showers/inadequate bathroom exhaust, high activity level from occupants, leaking flues from fuel fired equipment, leaking steam pipes or condensate pipes in a steam heating system....etc. )

    Indoor air temperature being maintained very warm (warm air has higher capacity to carry moisture/humidity, so the warmer the air, the more ambient humidity there can be), combined with the crappy windows.
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
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  • t. tekushan
    t. tekushan Member Posts: 141
    crappy windows

    Hey! Some of those crappy windows are beautiful! But they still would deserve a good storm window.

    Sustained condensation on windows will also mean condensation elsewhere in the structure that could do long term damage.

    But my real concern here is blocked venting of the boiler or water heater. This is a real health concern, to say the least.

    Any critters building something in the chimney?
  • Ken D.
    Ken D. Member Posts: 836
    Condensation

    See the thread titled "Furnace shut down from CO. It addresses comprehensively on this very subject. Please read it. Condensation may very well be caused by a blocked flue, vent or chimney. The result will be high levels of carbon monoxide inside the building. Do not run the furnace, boiler, water heater, fireplace, dryer, etc. Ventilate the building and run, don't walk to the phone to call a professional to have it checked immediately.
  • Jeff_49
    Jeff_49 Member Posts: 8


    I live in an old colonial house. The windows on the first floor
    have no condensation. However, some on the
    second floor have ice (I assume from condenstion) on the inside of storms, while the old wood frame 8 pane glass windows have only a little condensation.

    Why would the second floor windows have condenstion while
    the first floor has none?


    JC
  • t. tekushan
    t. tekushan Member Posts: 141
    terrarium

    The second floor is more prone to condensation for several reasons:

    Heat rises, carrying with it water vapor.

    Bedrooms are on the second floor. Respiration of slumbering people for 8 hours at stretch really does add up.

    Bath is usually on second floor.

    As far as condensation on the storm windows, this means that the storm window seals more tightly than the interior window. Moisture cools and condenses on the storm glass. I'll bet the weep holes on the storm windows are blocked with paint or debris.

    This may also explain why the downstairs storms don't condense much. The storms may have clear weep holes or the wear on the interior windows may be less allowing for a tighter seal on the interior window. (bedroom windows seem to get the most use)
  • jbplumber
    jbplumber Member Posts: 89
    hot date

  • jbplumber
    jbplumber Member Posts: 89
    one way to tell

    If you have a central chimney in your home and that wall covering ( drywall or plaster)is damp then you know the chimney is blocked.
  • Jeffrey Campbell
    Jeffrey Campbell Member Posts: 51


    Condesation on windows may also mean lack of air infiltration.
    You may need a HRV mechanical system if the home is new construction.Jeffrey
  • Dan Goodridge
    Dan Goodridge Member Posts: 62


    Jeff-- Condensation on the storm window indicates that the prime window is not tight-- ( typical in an older home). There are two possible solutions-- 1. Tighten up the prime windows with weatherstriiping-- vinyl bulb @ the meeting rail and spring bronze @ the window tracks. I have also heard of people drilling a tiny hole @ the top of the storm to act as a weep hole and allow the moisture to dissipate. This will not affect the performance of the storm.
  • Dale Pickard
    Dale Pickard Member Posts: 231
    Bad news

    It means you need to get a Mac. : -)
  • Ken D.
    Ken D. Member Posts: 836
    Condensation

    Also read the thread titled "Home Depot Gives Advice." It is eye opening reading.
This discussion has been closed.

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