CHOOSING BETWEEN MARVIN AND OLD INTEGRITY WINDOWS – ANY REGRETS?

I ran into the same thing after swapping out my old Integrity windows for new Marvins last fall. The drafts are gone, which is great, but now I’m seeing way more condensation on cold mornings, especially in the bathroom. I guess it’s just a tradeoff - better insulation means less air exchange, so moisture builds up. I ended up getting a small dehumidifier for the worst spots and it’s helped. Still feels weird to have to manage humidity this much, though.

- Totally get what you’re saying about the condensation. After I put in new Marvins at my place, the bathroom windows fogged up way more than the old ones ever did.
- Better seals mean less “natural” ventilation, so yeah, moisture hangs around longer.
- I started cracking the window after showers - old habit from growing up in a drafty house. It helps, but not perfect.
- Honestly, I’d rather deal with a little humidity than those winter drafts, but it’s definitely a shift.

- Totally relate to the condensation thing - my new windows are way “tighter” than the old ones, so it was a bit of a surprise at first.
- Agree, I’ll take a little extra humidity over those freezing drafts any day. The old windows rattled every time the wind picked up... not exactly cozy.
- Cracking the window after showers helps here too, but it’s not magic. I also started leaving the bathroom door open for a bit to let the air move. Not perfect, but it does make a difference.
- Honestly, the energy savings and comfort make up for the minor hassle. I’d say it’s more of an adjustment than a regret. Just takes some getting used to, you know?
- If you’re on the fence, I’d say don’t let the condensation scare you off. There are ways to manage it, and the benefits are worth it in my book.

Honestly, the energy savings and comfort make up for the minor hassle. I’d say it’s more of an adjustment than a regret.

This nails it for me too. I went with Marvin a couple years back after a lot of back and forth - mainly because I wanted better insulation, but yeah, the condensation was a curveball at first. It’s just a sign they’re actually sealing well. I did notice that running the bathroom fan longer and keeping blinds slightly raised during cold snaps helps a lot, though. Not perfect, but way better than those old drafty frames. The initial sticker shock stung, but honestly, my heating bill dropped enough that it’s starting to feel justified.

Funny, I had almost the exact same reaction after swapping out my old Integrity windows for Marvins last winter. The condensation freaked me out at first, too - thought maybe I’d messed up the install or something. Turns out, it really was just that the new ones actually seal like they’re supposed to. Still have to crack a window in the bathroom sometimes, but overall, my house is way warmer and quieter now. I’ll admit, the price made me wince, but between the lower heating bills and not feeling those drafts anymore, I’m glad I went for it.

Totally get where you’re coming from on the condensation thing - it threw me for a loop the first week after my Marvin install, too. I kept thinking I’d done something wrong, but apparently it’s just what happens when your windows actually seal tight. Honestly, the upfront cost was rough for me, but I’ve noticed my furnace isn’t running nearly as much, and even street noise is way down. Still not sure if I’ll ever get used to the “new window smell,” though... anyone else notice that?

That “new window smell” is real - mine lingered for weeks, and I was starting to wonder if it’d ever fade. About condensation: did you notice it more on certain days? Mine seems worse when it’s below freezing outside but humid inside. Wonder if that’s normal or just my house...

I’ve noticed the same pattern with condensation - definitely worse when it’s frigid outside and we’re running the humidifier indoors. My old Integrity windows actually handled it a bit better, but the new Marvins seem more airtight, so maybe it’s just trapping more moisture? I’m still trying to dial in the right humidity levels… sometimes it feels like a balancing act.

- Been there - humidity’s a pain to get right, especially with newer, tighter windows.
- My place is 40 years old, and honestly, the older windows leaked air but rarely had much condensation.
- The Marvins are definitely airtight, but yeah, that means whatever moisture you’ve got sticks around.
- I just keep a cheap hygrometer nearby and tweak the humidifier as needed...still feels like a guessing game some days.
- You’re not alone - it’s a balancing act for sure.

I just put in Marvins last fall, and yeah, the airtight thing is real. Didn’t expect to be fiddling with the humidifier so much. The old windows were drafty but honestly, I never saw condensation like I do now. Is there a trick to getting the humidity right, or is it just trial and error? Starting to wonder if I should’ve gone with something less “sealed up.” Anyone else regret making the switch?

Didn’t expect to be fiddling with the humidifier so much. The old windows were drafty but honestly, I never saw condensation like I do now.

That’s the tradeoff with modern windows - way tighter envelope, so you’re suddenly in charge of your own airflow. It’s not just trial and error, but it can feel like it at first. I usually recommend a hygrometer to monitor levels, since what works one week might not work the next if the weather shifts. Out of curiosity, how’s your ventilation otherwise? Any bath fans or HRV/ERV system? Sometimes it’s less about humidity “setting” and more about getting stale air out.

- 100% relate to this. We swapped out our old leaky windows last fall (went with Marvin, fwiw), and suddenly we were playing detective with the humidity too.
- Didn’t realize how much the drafty windows actually “helped” with airflow until they were gone. Now, if we don’t crack a window or run the bath fan, the place gets stuffy fast.
- Hygrometer was a game-changer. Ours jumps around a lot depending on cooking, showers, or even just weather swings.
- We don’t have an HRV or ERV - just bath fans and a kitchen vent, so it’s a bit of a balancing act. Sometimes feels like I’m running around turning things on and off all day.
- The condensation freaked me out at first, but it got better once we figured out the right combo of fan use and not overdoing the humidifier.
- Honestly, I’d still pick the tighter windows again. House is warmer and quieter now, but yeah, it’s more hands-on than I expected.

If you’re used to old windows, it’s a weird adjustment. But not having to wear three sweaters inside? Worth it.

Yeah, I get this. We swapped to Marvin a couple years ago and the first winter was a learning curve with humidity and condensation too. Still, not having drafts everywhere is a huge upgrade. I do miss just opening a window and calling it good, though. Now it’s a bit more work to keep things balanced, but the comfort is worth it for us.

Now it’s a bit more work to keep things balanced, but the comfort is worth it for us.

That’s exactly what I’ve noticed since upgrading - less draft, but now I’m always watching the humidity, especially in winter. Did you end up adding any kind of ventilation system, or just crack the windows when needed? I keep debating whether an HRV is overkill for our old house, or if I’m just overthinking it. Curious how others have handled that adjustment.

We just crack a window now and then - no fancy HRV here. Honestly, I thought about it, but the price tag made me laugh and shut the browser. Our house is 1920s and already leaks enough air, I think. Humidity does need some babysitting though... got a little hygrometer on the windowsill that’s basically my winter pet.

Cracking a window is basically how we survived for years. Our place is 1930s, and I swear you can feel a breeze some days even with everything “shut.” We finally bit the bullet and swapped out the old sashes with Marvin a couple years back. Honestly, I hesitated at the price - felt like highway robbery at first. But the drafts dropped off, and the humidity swings are way less wild now. Hygrometer barely moves unless I’m doing laundry or boiling pasta.

I looked at Integrity too, but the build just didn’t feel as solid in my hands. Maybe I’m picky, but I wanted something that’d last longer than me, not just look good for a few years. That said, nothing’s perfect. Installation was a pain - old houses never have square openings, so there was some cussing and extra trim work.

If you’re still airing things out by hand and babysitting humidity, new windows actually do help. Just wish they weren’t so pricey... but at least my winter “pet” is less needy these days.

That’s a pretty common experience with these old houses - nothing’s ever square, and every window opening is a new little adventure. I’ve run into the same headaches on jobs, especially with 1920s-30s homes where settling has made everything a bit... wonky. Marvin’s definitely got the edge in build quality compared to the older Integrity line (which is now Elevate, if anyone’s looking), but you pay for it, no question.

Did you notice much difference in noise reduction after swapping out the sashes? Sometimes clients expect miracles there and are surprised it’s not night-and-day unless you go for triple pane or add storm windows. Also curious if you went with wood interior or all fiberglass - each has its quirks for long-term maintenance.

The humidity swings settling down is a big win, though. I’ve seen folks try to fix that with humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but leaky windows are usually the real culprit. Price stings, but at least you’re not taping up plastic every winter.

You nailed it about the price sting, but honestly, having decent windows is worth every penny in these old places. I swapped to Marvin wood interiors a few years back - maintenance is a bit more, but they feel right for the house. Noise reduction was better, but yeah, not a miracle unless you really go all in. Still beats fighting with drafty sashes and plastic every winter.

Still beats fighting with drafty sashes and plastic every winter.

Man, that plastic dance every fall is the worst. I went with Integrity a while back (before they became Elevate or whatever), and yeah, they're not as fancy as full Marvin wood, but honestly? Less fuss. I get the wood vibe for sure - looks killer - but I got tired of scraping and repainting. Noise is better, but like you said, it’s not soundproof unless you go nuts. At least my living room isn’t an icebox anymore.

I hear you on the scraping and repainting - got old fast. Swapped out my originals for Elevates last year, and yeah, not as pretty as wood, but way less hassle. Drafts are gone, and I don’t miss the plastic sheets at all. Only thing is, the hardware feels just a bit cheaper than the old stuff, but I’ll take it for the warmth.