- Totally get what you mean about installation. Even the fanciest windows won’t help if there’s a gap or dodgy seal.
- Noticed in my place, proper foam and tape around the frame made a huge difference—tiny details, big impact on drafts.
- Curious if anyone’s tried triple glazing? I keep hearing mixed things about cost vs. benefit, especially if your installer isn’t top notch anyway.
- Self-cleaning glass sounds cool in theory, but yeah... pets and kids seem to defeat it pretty quick.
- Sometimes I wonder if all the hype is worth it or if we’re just chasing that next “energy bill drop.”
- You’re spot on about installation. I’ve seen neighbors spend a fortune on fancy windows, but a sloppy fit just means more drafts.
- Triple glazing? Honestly, unless you’re in a super cold spot, I’m not convinced it’s worth the extra cash. Double with good seals seems fine for most.
- Self-cleaning glass... yeah, my dog’s nose prints laugh at that feature.
- Chasing energy savings gets old—sometimes the “upgrade” is more about peace of mind than real dollars saved. But hey, every little bit helps, right?
I hear you on the self-cleaning glass—mine barely lasted a week before the cat’s paw prints and pollen made a joke of that promise. I’ve also wondered about triple glazing. We’re in a milder climate, so I went with double and honestly, can’t say I notice much difference from my neighbor’s “fancy” triple panes. What really made the biggest change here was just making sure everything was sealed up tight. Drafts are sneaky...and way more annoying than most folks realize.
Funny, I actually noticed a difference after we switched to triple glazing, but maybe that’s just because our old windows were ancient and leaky. The real game-changer for us was humidity control—no more condensation in the mornings. Drafts are sneaky, but so is moisture.
You nailed it—humidity sneaks up on people way more than drafts do. I’ve swapped out plenty of old single-pane windows, and honestly, the biggest feedback I get isn’t just about warmth, but waking up to dry sills instead of puddles. Triple glazing’s great, but if you don’t tackle moisture, you’re still fighting a losing battle. Good call getting both sorted.
Triple glazing’s great, but if you don’t tackle moisture, you’re still fighting a losing battle.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen folks drop serious cash on fancy windows and then totally ignore the humidity side—next thing you know, there’s mold creeping in the corners. Out of curiosity, has anyone actually had success with those in-wall dehumidifiers or is that just a band-aid? I’ve always leaned on better ventilation, but sometimes that’s not enough, especially in older brick homes.
- Totally with you—triple glazing is only half the battle.
- Tried one of those wall dehumidifiers in my 70s semi... honestly, it helped a bit, but didn’t solve everything. Still had to crack a window now and then or run the extractor fan like it was going out of style.
- Older brick houses just seem to hold onto moisture like a grudge.
- Ventilation’s king, but sometimes you gotta throw the kitchen sink at it (figuratively, unless your plumbing’s also leaking).
- Don’t feel bad if you’re still chasing that perfect dry corner—pretty sure we all are.
I get what you’re saying about ventilation being king, but I’d question whether it’s always the main culprit with persistent damp. Sometimes, especially in older brick houses, the issue’s more about thermal bridging or even rising damp than just air movement. I’ve seen cases where folks install all the extractor fans and dehumidifiers they want, but without addressing cold spots or dodgy pointing, the moisture just keeps coming back.
Older brick houses just seem to hold onto moisture like a grudge.
That’s true, but sometimes it’s not just the bricks themselves—it’s poor insulation around lintels, or even blocked air bricks. I’d look at those before throwing more gadgets at the problem. Anyone else found hidden causes like that?
Funny you mention blocked air bricks—I spent half a weekend last winter poking around the back of my 1930s semi, only to discover that two were basically packed with cobwebs and old paint. No wonder the front room always felt like a damp cave, even with the windows cracked and a dehumidifier humming away. Once I cleared them out (and added those little mesh covers to keep out the spiders), things started drying up. Not overnight, but it was a noticeable difference.
I agree that insulation around lintels and sills can be a sneaky culprit too. The previous owners of my place had done a “quick fix” job with expanding foam in the bay window area—looked fine on the inside, but outside you could see gaps where water was probably just wicking in. Took ages to track down where that persistent patch of mould was coming from. Ended up having to pull off some plaster, re-point the brickwork, and insulate properly before it finally stopped coming back.
Rising damp is another beast entirely... My neighbor spent thousands on a chemical DPC after getting panicked by a surveyor, but later found out it was actually just leaky guttering soaking into the wall every time it rained. Sometimes it feels like these old houses are determined to keep their secrets until you’ve tried every possible fix.
Ventilation’s important, but yeah—it’s never just one thing. A bit like whack-a-mole: sort one issue, another pops up somewhere else. I’ve learned to check for cold spots with one of those cheap IR thermometers—surprisingly handy for finding weird little patches where insulation’s missing or there’s a hidden draught.
Anyone else ever pulled up floorboards and found mystery moisture? I once found an old clay pipe under the hallway—no idea if it was part of some ancient drainage or just someone’s lost relic—but it was definitely holding onto more water than I’d like…
Funny you mention mystery moisture—I once lifted a couple boards in our front room and found the ends of what looked like an old lead pipe just sitting there, surrounded by damp soil. Do you ever wonder if these odd relics are actually causing half our issues, or are we just blaming the past for modern problems? I’m still not sure if that pipe was ever active or just left behind when they changed the drains decades ago. Makes me question how much stuff is lurking under the floors that we’ll never find.