Window condensation, can this be fixed and how?
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Sounds like you have metal windows or single pane windows. Metal windows installed without something called a thermobreak are going to sweat. A thermobreak is rubber around the window frame/fin that you can't see because of out side brickmould or your siding. Can't tell if a window is thermally broken after siding has been run. If you have single pane non insullated windows there is nothing you can do short of replacing them with insulated sashes. Companies such as Caradco windows have something called "zap paks" to replace non insullated sash. I sell windows for a living. Been doing it for over 20 years. anybody tell you that humidity causes your windows to sweat does not understand construction of windows. If that's the case then why are'nt the walls sweating also? See if Pella or andersen has that on there websites. Again, if you had a humidity problem then your walls would be sweating,doors would be hard to close,and guess what; your walls would have mould also.
Good luck
Condensation is caused by thermal transfer across the window. If the relative humidity inside the house is higher than the temperature outside, the windows will condense on the inside, likewise, if the relative humidity outside is higher than the temperature inside, the windows will condense on the outside. The easiest and most surefire way to prevent condensation is to have sealed double pane windows. Since this isn't really an option for everyone, if you have vented double pane windows or single pane windows with condensation on the inside, get a dehumidifier to lower humidity in the home, and if condensation is on the outside, you can't really do anything other than turning up the thermostat a few degrees to see if that helps. If it's just a streak of condensation outside the window, check the vent ducts and see if there's one blowing directly on the window.
I'm sorry I don't know the name of it but there is a product that is almost a cream consistency that you can buy that stops eyeglasses from fogging up and I know that works and it also works on you mirror in the bathroom so when you're finished you don't have to wait to use it.
alot of condensation problems can be fixed with an HRV...Heat Recovery Ventilator...they can usually be tied in with the furnace ducting of your house and they greatly improve your indoor air quality as well as solve the condensation problems
Window condensation is caused by excess humidity and that alone. The brand of window and the quality of window doesnt affect it. The only way to fix that is to lower your humidity in the house, or if you have heavy drapes or a window blind drawn shut open it up, as this will trap moist air next to the window. You can go to Anderson window's, Pella window's, Marvin window's web sites and they will say the same thing about humidity.
The reason condensation forms is because there is that the temperature of the window is below the dew point of the air inside. The dew point is a measure of humidity, the higher the dew point, the higher the humidity.
The way I stopped this is to hermetically seal the window with another layer of plastic on the inside. The advantage of this is that it slows conduction of heat through your window, which is one of the primary ways heat escapes from a house.
It can be clear heat shrink film, or you can make a wooden frame to attach your own platic layer to (you can use clear plastic, thin white floor underlay foam (about 2mm thick), even bubble wrap will work). And if you have a removable flyscreen, it's even easier - just wrap the plastic over the window side, and tape.
My addition to this solution (and I haven't seen this advised anywhere else on the net) is to add a stocking, sock or cup filled with silica gel in between. This will act to dry out the inside air if there are any remaining small gaps. And it's dead easy to get silica gel - any of the crystalline cat litter is silica gel, just look at the packet, it is a translucent white crystal.
When and if the silica gel eventually stops working because it has absorbed all the moisture it can, you can rejuvenate it by heating it in an oven. Grilling it might be better though, as any moisture could escape regularly.
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