Condensation Build-Up!

[Ross Cooke]

I have a problem with condensation build up on the inside of my windows on the main floor, I am told this is a result of being built air-tight. I have a gas fire place in the basement that heats the house. I do have electric baseboards on both levels but are never turned on. My problem is that the condensation builds up, freezes, and then when the sun hits the windows it melts into the window frames and eventually will start to rot. My question is what can I do about this. Any suggestions would be mostly appreciated!!

[JT]

Ross, the first thing I would do is look for sources
of excess moisture such as a damp crawlspace or
basement, unvented baths and cooking spaces, etc.
If none of these are a problem you may have to go
to a dehumidifier.

[Bruce M]

Hi Ross:
Good points in the previous posts.
The reasons you are getting so much moisture on the inside of your windows in the winter are:
1. You are generating lots of moisture in the house. Previous posts have named several sources: moisture rising up from a damp crawl space; many showers/hot water boiling, lots of people breathing and perhaps a ventless gas log set.
2. Your house is “tight”, meaning it lets little fresh air in around windows and doors to replace the humid air, and
3. You are not using insulated windows (or exterior storm windows). Meaning, the glass is the coolest spot inside your house, so the excess moisture naturally condenses there.

Possible solutions:
1. Reduce interior moisture sources. Crawl space plastic sheeting; stove exhaust during cooking; bath exhaust during shower/bath; slight damper opening when using ventless gas logs.

2. Extract moisture from the air. Best way to do this is to run the central fan. This will force the interior air over the A/C (assuming you have central A/C) evaporator aluminum fins, which will acts as a big dehumidifier. Or, as you suggest, you can run a dehumidifier, but this will be an expensive alternative.

3. Install insulated “thermopane” double glazed windows or exterior storm windows.

4. Install a heat exchanger. This is now required in many new housing areas. It passes inside air over a series of multi finned heath exchanger coils, then passes the inside air to the outside, bringing in outside air and passing back over the heat exchange coils, warming the air up.

Hope this helps

Bruce M

[Mario Roque]

How to remove moisture between panes and reseal?

[d stapleton]

my home has a sto finish but there seems to be a big draft coming in under the kitchen cabinets..how do i remedy this, i cant just stick insulation up under the bottom of the sto?

[Author]

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