I know exactly what you mean about the “Ziploc bag” effect. When we swapped out our old single-pane windows for double-glazed units a few years back, the house got so much quieter and less drafty, but we had to rethink ventilation too. I ended up putting bathroom fans on timers and leaving interior doors open more often—otherwise, the air just felt heavy, especially in winter.
One step that helped was checking for moisture after showers and cooking. If I saw any condensation on the new windows, I’d crack one open for a bit or run the fan longer. It’s not automatic like it used to be when everything leaked... but it’s manageable.
I’ve been curious about those ultra-slim triple glass windows folks are talking about here. Do they make the stale air problem worse, or is it about the same as with regular double panes? Anyone notice a difference in how quickly rooms fog up after a shower or while cooking? Just wondering if it’s worth going that extra step next time I replace windows, or if it tips things too far in the “airtight” direction.
I’ve been wondering the same thing about the triple glass—like, how much more “sealed up” can a house get before it just feels…stale? When we did our double-pane swap a couple years back (1960s ranch, drafty as heck before), it was such an upgrade for warmth and noise, but I definitely noticed the air felt heavier, especially in winter. I’m in a pretty humid area, so if I forgot to run the bathroom fan after a shower, the windows would get all fogged up—much more than with the old leaky ones. It’s like you said: you have to be intentional about ventilation now.
I haven’t tried the ultra-slim triple glass myself, but my neighbor across the street put them in last fall. She mentioned her place is even quieter and warmer, but she’s also running her fans more often and leaves her bedroom door open a crack at night. She joked that her house feels like a spaceship sometimes—super insulated, but if you don’t let some air in, it gets stuffy fast.
From what I’ve read (and heard from her), triple glass does make things even tighter. Less heat loss, less noise—but yeah, less “natural” airflow too. The condensation thing seems about the same or maybe even a bit less since the inside pane stays warmer (so moisture doesn’t hit a cold surface and fog up as easily). But if you’re not moving any air around—like after cooking or showers—it’ll still build up eventually.
If you’re already dealing with heavy air after moving to double panes, I’d guess triple would just nudge things further in that direction. Not necessarily bad if you’re on top of ventilation (timers on fans seem smart), but it’s definitely not set-and-forget anymore. I guess it comes down to how much you care about energy savings vs having to babysit your airflow.
Also—I totally get missing that “automatic” ventilation from leaky windows. It’s weirdly nostalgic thinking about drafty old houses now...
Not sure I buy the idea that triple glass is always the slam dunk folks make it out to be. Yeah, the insulation’s better, but I’ve seen a few jobs where folks ended up with more humidity issues than before—especially in older homes that just aren’t set up for that kind of airtightness. You can run fans all day, but if your house wasn’t built with a proper ventilation system in mind, you might be trading one problem for another. Sometimes a little draft isn’t the worst thing in the world...
Sometimes a little draft isn’t the worst thing in the world...
I hear you on that. When I swapped out my 70s-era windows for triple glass last winter, the place felt way tighter—noticed it right away. The heating bill dropped, sure, but I also started seeing more condensation on the inside. Turns out, my old leaky windows were kinda helping with airflow. Ended up having to crack a window now and then just to keep things from getting stuffy. Definitely makes me wonder if there’s such a thing as “too sealed” in these older houses.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing after tightening up my place. The old windows let in a bit of a breeze, but at least the air felt fresher. Now with these new triple panes, it’s like living in Tupperware—great for the heating bill, but sometimes it’s just too stuffy. I ended up buying a small dehumidifier for the winter months because the condensation was getting out of hand. Makes me wonder if all this “sealing up” is always worth it, especially in houses that were never really built to be airtight in the first place.
That’s a really common thing I hear after people upgrade to those super-sealed windows. The energy savings are real, but older homes especially just weren’t designed to be airtight like that. Did you notice more dust or stale smells too? I’ve had clients complain about that “Tupperware” feeling—sometimes adding a trickle vent or even just cracking a window for 10 minutes helps. Curious if you’ve tried any kind of mechanical ventilation, or just sticking with the dehumidifier?
I’ve definitely run into that “Tupperware” feeling after installs, especially in houses built before the 80s. Have you tried running your bath fan or range hood for a bit each day? Sometimes just using what’s already there helps with air exchange. Curious—did you notice any condensation around the window frames after sealing everything up? That can be a sign you need more fresh air coming in, not just less humidity.
“Sometimes just using what’s already there helps with air exchange.”
I get what you mean, but I’m not totally convinced that running a bath fan or range hood is enough once you’ve got everything super tight with triple glass. In my 1970s place, after upgrading windows, I actually noticed more condensation even with fans on. Seemed like the house just needed a bit more “planned” fresh air—ended up adding a small HRV unit. Not saying the fans don’t help, but sometimes they’re just not quite enough for these newer window setups. Anyone else find that?
“Seemed like the house just needed a bit more “planned” fresh air—ended up adding a small HRV unit.”
That’s pretty much been my experience too. Once you start sealing everything up tight with triple glass, those old fans just don’t cut it anymore. I’ve seen folks try to rely on range hoods and bath fans, but unless you’re intentional about bringing in fresh air, condensation finds a way. HRV or ERV makes a big difference—especially in older homes that weren’t built with this in mind. It’s not always fun cutting new holes for vents, but it beats dealing with wet windows every winter.
Yeah, you nailed it. Once you start tightening up a house with new triple glass, you really notice how much the old “leaky” air was doing for you, even if it wasn’t great for the heating bill. I’ve been on a few jobs where folks thought just swapping in fancy windows would be the magic fix, but then they start calling about fogged-up glass or that musty smell creeping in during winter. It’s always the same story—those old bath fans and kitchen hoods just aren’t set up for a tight envelope.
I get it, nobody’s thrilled about cutting into their walls for another vent, but honestly, the difference with a small HRV is night and day. I put one in my own place after we did a big window upgrade, and I haven’t seen a drop of condensation since. It’s a bit of a pain upfront—figuring out the best spot, making sure you’re not running into plumbing or electrical—but once it’s in, it just does its thing quietly. I’d say, if you’re already investing in high-end windows, it’s worth planning for the airflow at the same time.
Funny enough, I had a client last year who was dead set against adding any more holes to his house. He ended up with mold on the window sills by February. Had to go back and retrofit an HRV anyway. Sometimes you just can’t fight physics.
Anyway, you’re definitely on the right track thinking ahead about ventilation. It’s one of those upgrades you don’t really appreciate until you’ve lived with it for a bit—like heated floors or a good mudroom.