Yeah, I hear you—foggy windows aren’t just “charm” in an old house. I used to blame my 1950s ranch for everything until I realized half the problem was me boiling pasta like it’s a sauna and never running the fan. Once I started actually using the vent hood (and made peace with cracking a window now and then), the glass cleared up a lot. Still, some old single panes will sweat no matter what you do, but habits make a bigger difference than folks think.
That’s interesting—do you think vent hoods actually do enough, or is it more about just getting any air moving? I always wondered if those old “recirculating” fans (the ones that don’t vent outside) are even worth bothering with. I’m in a drafty 1940s place and sometimes I feel like the windows sweat just from me breathing in winter. Have you noticed if certain rooms fog up more than others, or is it pretty much everywhere?
I always wondered if those old “recirculating” fans (the ones that don’t vent outside) are even worth bothering with.
Honestly, I’ve never found recirculating fans to make much difference in my place. The moisture just seems to linger, especially when I’m cooking pasta or taking a hot shower. My bathroom fogs up way more than other rooms, probably because it’s got the smallest window and almost no airflow. Drafty windows help a bit but sometimes just make it colder without actually reducing condensation.
The moisture just seems to linger, especially when I’m cooking pasta or taking a hot shower.
Funny thing, I’ve actually had the opposite experience in a couple of remodels. Recirculating fans aren’t perfect, but if you keep the filters clean and run them long enough, they do help with odors and a bit of steam. That said, nothing beats a proper vented fan—those actually pull the damp air out. Drafty windows might help with airflow, but like you said, they just make everything cold. Sometimes it’s a tradeoff between comfort and condensation.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same—vented fans make a world of difference compared to those recirculating ones. In my last place, I swapped out a cheap recirc hood for a proper vent and it cut down on window fog big time. Just took an afternoon and a bit of ducting. If you can’t do that, cracking a window a little during showers helps, but yeah, it gets chilly fast... It’s definitely a balancing act.
That’s a solid upgrade—vented fans can really make a difference, especially in older places where moisture just hangs around. I’m curious, did you notice any impact on your heating bill after adding the vent? Sometimes folks worry about losing too much warm air, but honestly, the tradeoff for dry windows is usually worth it. Cracking a window works in a pinch, but yeah, not ideal in winter. It’s funny how something as small as foggy glass can be such a pain to deal with...
Funny you mention the heating bill—I worried about that too when we put in a bathroom vent fan last fall. Honestly, if it changed anything, it was pretty minor. Our windows used to fog up every morning after showers, and I was always wiping them down so they didn’t get all gross. Now, they’re clear most days, and the bathroom doesn’t feel like a rainforest. I guess I’d rather pay a couple bucks more for heat than deal with peeling paint and mildew. Has anyone tried those moisture absorber things? I see them at the hardware store but haven’t given them a shot yet.
I hear you on the vent fan making a bigger difference than you’d think. I’ve seen a lot of folks surprised by how much those little fans help with window fog and paint issues, especially in older houses where the windows aren’t as tight. As for those moisture absorber tubs, I’ve tried them in a pinch—like in a basement window well that just wouldn’t dry out. They work, but honestly, they’re more of a band-aid. If you’ve got good airflow, you probably won’t notice much from them in a bathroom. I usually tell people to focus on ventilation first, then look at window seals if problems stick around.
Interesting—my bathroom fan is tiny, and I always figured it was just for show, but now I’m wondering if it’s actually doing something. Has anyone noticed a difference after upgrading to a more powerful fan? I’ve been using those moisture tubs too, but honestly, I can’t tell if they help or not. Maybe my expectations are off… is it normal to have at least a little fog on colder days, even with decent airflow?
Maybe my expectations are off… is it normal to have at least a little fog on colder days, even with decent airflow?
I totally get where you’re coming from. When I swapped out our old fan for a beefier one, it helped, but didn’t make the fog vanish entirely—especially in winter. Our bathroom’s on the chilly side and even with the new fan running, I’ll still get some condensation on the windows after a hot shower. Those moisture tubs work a bit, but they’re not miracle workers. Honestly, I think a little fog is just part of life unless you’ve got commercial-grade ventilation or keep the window cracked all year (which isn’t happening here). Don’t stress too much if you’re seeing a bit—sounds pretty normal to me.