Mine have held up pretty well so far, though it's only been about two years. I'm in a moderately sunny spot, but I did notice some slight discoloration in one corner after heavy rains last spring...maybe you're onto something with climate-specific sweet spots?
I've noticed something similar here—my windows are about three years old, and while they're generally holding up nicely, there's some minor condensation buildup during colder months. Makes me wonder if local humidity levels play a bigger role than we realize...
Condensation can definitely be tricky. Local humidity does factor in, for sure, but honestly, I've found it's usually a combination of things. Do you keep your blinds or curtains closed most of the time? I noticed at my place—especially in winter—when I left heavy curtains closed overnight, I'd wake up to condensation on the windows. Once I started leaving them slightly open, it helped a lot.
Also worth checking if you've got exhaust fans running properly in bathrooms and kitchens. Cooking and showering push humidity way up indoors, and proper ventilation makes a noticeable difference. I'm skeptical that local outdoor humidity alone would cause significant indoor condensation issues unless your home's ventilation isn't quite doing its job.
If everything's already set up right and you're still seeing moisture, might just be one of those minor annoyances we homeowners have to deal with...
"Cooking and showering push humidity way up indoors, and proper ventilation makes a noticeable difference."
Yeah, totally agree with this. When I first moved into my place, I thought my windows were defective or something because every morning they'd be dripping wet. Turns out, I was just terrible at remembering to turn on the bathroom fan after showers... rookie homeowner mistake, haha.
Also, have you checked if your dryer vent is properly sealed and venting outside? I found out mine was slightly disconnected behind the wall (thanks, previous owner 🙄), and it was pumping warm, humid air right back into the house. Fixing that made a surprising difference.
But honestly, even after sorting all that out, I still get a little condensation on super cold mornings. Guess it's just one of those charming homeowner quirks we get to live with... yay us.
Good call on the dryer vent—I had a similar issue and sealing it properly helped a lot. A few other things that made a noticeable difference for me:
- Installed humidity sensors in bathrooms to automatically kick on exhaust fans (no more forgetting!)
- Upgraded kitchen range hood to one with higher CFM rating—really helps clear moisture from cooking.
- Added weatherstripping around doors; surprising how much cold air sneaks in otherwise.
Still, like you said, some condensation on really chilly mornings seems unavoidable... guess it's just part of the homeowner adventure.
I've been thinking about upgrading my kitchen hood too, but I'm curious—did you notice a big jump in noise levels with the higher CFM? Trying to balance moisture control with not sounding like an airplane taking off...
Higher CFM doesn't always mean louder, actually. Have you checked out models with variable speed settings? I installed one recently for a client, and they found running it on medium was plenty for everyday cooking—quiet enough to chat comfortably, but still effective at moisture control. Only bumped it up to high when frying or heavy cooking. Might be worth considering something adjustable rather than just chasing the highest CFM rating...
We upgraded our range hood a couple years back and went with a variable speed model too. Honestly, it's been great. Most days we keep it on low or medium, and it's quiet enough that we barely notice it running. Only crank it up when we're doing something smoky or frying bacon (which seems to set off our smoke alarm every single time, lol). Definitely agree that adjustable settings make way more sense than just going for max power.
Yeah, adjustable settings really make a difference. Curious though, did you notice any significant energy savings after switching to variable speed? I've been considering an upgrade myself but still weighing the cost-benefit...
I've had a variable speed system for about three years now, and honestly, the energy savings are noticeable but not exactly life-changing. My monthly bills dropped maybe 10-15%—nothing to sneeze at, but it won't fund your next vacation either. The real benefit for me was comfort: fewer temperature swings and quieter operation. But speaking of upgrades, has anyone tried those smart thermostats with adaptive learning? Wondering if they're actually smart or just another gadget I'll end up arguing with...