Those of you with cavity walls - Condensation on house windows in Winter...

[rdfcpete]

Guys/Girls,

I'm sure like myself some or many of you will have cavity wall installation in your homes. In the winter/colder months, particularly at the back of the house, we end up with pools of water on the window sills and extremely heavy condensation on the windows when the temperature is below 5 degrees or so outside. It takes literally 4/5 hours of breeze coming in to clear unless you mop it up by hand 

Even leaving the windows on the latch doesn't really help - how do you get round it?

Thanks,
Pete.

[garrardrj]

We have solid walls and no insulation as the house is old. We get condensation too, have had it for 25 years. Open the window a little will reduce it. Get a karcher window vac to clear it up. The only real solution is a dehumidifier but you'll need several and expensive for the ones that actually work.

[bradh]

try one of these on the window sill might help work great in cars
 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PINGI-Car-Home-Dehumidifier-Large-Dry-Bag-Moisture-Killer-Absorber-Pad-Reusable-/141568927476?hash=item20f62a66f4:g:ShIAAOSwx2dYG35w

re usable too just microwave them to remove water :)

[rich83]

Dehumidifier?

[v4rley]

As mentioned above the karcher window vac is great for removing the condensation and your other option would be a dehumidifier maybe also try a humidity gauge to assess the humidity

[grey golfster]

Karcher to clear up any pools of water.

Good dehumidifier works wonders, and of course blows warm dry air back around the house too. You also get free demineralised water for your car too!

In a bigger, older house, a log burner or multifuel stove will work wonders, as they make the house "breath".

We currently are using all 3 methods as all family home for Xmas! No real condensation problems despite solid walls.

[s3dubbin]

New windows or new roughcast? Dehumidifiers work well don't half rip the water out but there must be a reason. I ran an Ebac dehumidifier for years and it worked great, litres of water each day. Do you dry your clothes inside, that is the worst for creating condensation.

Cheers, Stevie.

[Frodo-anni]

Dehumidifier - run one for years in my porch, no form of heating in it, was always damp/cold, makes such a difference. Have an eBac came with 5 year warranty that was used once last year before it expired. Had no issue with the customer service from them.

[grey golfster]

Dehumidifier - run one for years in my porch, no form of heating in it, was always damp/cold, makes such a difference. Have an eBac came with 5 year warranty that was used once last year before it expired. Had no issue with the customer service from them.

Another vote for Ebac - on my third (at least..)

[Juliand]

Karcher window vac great for sucking up the condensation - bought a refurb one from karcher for about £25 - I think they come with 12 months warranty now (mine was 6 months at the time). Only deals with the symptoms though - you need a solution to the cause, which is probably down to ventilation - also good point made about drying clothes indoors

[grey golfster]

In context of the above, you maybe interested to hear that my latest Ebac has come with a specific function  button setting for "clothes drying".
Normally it runs in "Smart mode" which works well.
Drying mode speeds the fan up, and perhaps alters the relative humidity setting? It then allows you too choose a 2 or 4 hour drying cycle!

Am trying to experiment a bit to see if this is better than the tumble drier, by better I mean cheaper, and warmer indoors, by blowing dry warm air into the house, as opposed to warm wet air to outdoors...