Yeah, I’ve seen the same thing with vinyl—those cold corners just seem to invite condensation, and once there’s moisture, mold isn’t far behind. I tried a dehumidifier in the winter but honestly, it was a pain to empty all the time and didn’t solve everything. Fiberglass supposedly resists temperature swings a bit better, but I’m not convinced it’s a magic fix. Airflow helps, but like you said, who wants to crack a window when it’s below zero? Sometimes I wonder if it’s just the price we pay for living in these climates...
Had a client a couple winters back with the same issue—vinyl frames sweating in the corners, especially where the trim met the wall. They switched to fiberglass hoping it’d be a silver bullet, but honestly, it just slowed things down. Like you said,
That matches what I’ve seen. The real game-changer was adding proper insulation around the window opening and making sure the vapor barrier was tight. Not glamorous, but it made way more difference than swapping window materials alone.“Fiberglass supposedly resists temperature swings a bit better, but I’m not convinced it’s a magic fix.”
Not sure I totally buy that insulation is always the "real game-changer."
I did all that with my old vinyls, still had puddles on the sill every morning. Only thing that actually helped me was upgrading to triple-pane glass—pricey, but way less condensation. Maybe my house is just cursed?“The real game-changer was adding proper insulation around the window opening and making sure the vapor barrier was tight.”
I hear you—sometimes it really does feel like the house itself is just out to get you. I had the same issue with my old vinyls, too. Did all the insulation tricks, sealed everything up, still woke up to soggy sills. Triple-pane glass finally made a difference for me as well, though my wallet still hasn’t forgiven me. Some houses just seem determined to test every solution...
- Fiberglass is definitely tougher in mountain winters, but I’m not convinced it’s always worth the price jump.
- Vinyl can warp or get brittle—seen it happen when temps really swing.
- Fiberglass seems to handle condensation a bit better, but honestly, even with top-tier windows, moisture sneaks in if your house breathes weird.
- Triple-pane is great, but yeah, that upfront cost stings... sometimes feels like you’re paying for peace of mind more than actual energy savings.
- If you’re already fighting soggy sills, might be worth checking the install itself—sometimes it’s the flashing, not the window material.
I’ve always wondered how much of the condensation issue is really about window type versus overall home ventilation. Like, I’ve seen triple-pane fiberglass do a great job in my neighbor’s place, but in my older house (built in the 60s), even fancy windows didn’t stop moisture from pooling up in the corners during a cold snap. Anyone tried addressing airflow or humidity control instead of just swapping windows? Sometimes it feels like we’re chasing symptoms, not the root problem.
You’re right to look beyond just the window type. Even with high-end triple-pane units, if the house doesn’t have proper ventilation or humidity control, you’ll still get condensation—especially in older homes that weren’t built with modern air exchange in mind. I’ve seen folks throw money at new windows and still end up with wet sills because their HVAC isn’t pulling enough moisture out, or the bathroom fans aren’t vented properly. Sometimes a simple HRV (heat recovery ventilator) install makes a bigger difference than another window upgrade. It’s not always glamorous, but managing indoor humidity and airflow can solve problems windows alone can’t touch.
That’s a really good point about ventilation and humidity. I’m in the middle of my own window research and honestly, I was so focused on the specs—U-factor, frame material, all that—that I didn’t give much thought to the bigger picture. Our house is from the late ‘70s and we get condensation on the windows every winter, even after upgrading a couple to double-pane vinyl. At first I thought maybe it was just the windows themselves, but now I’m realizing our bathroom fan barely moves air and we’ve never looked at our HRV (if we even have one?).
It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that new windows will solve everything, but like you said, if the air just isn’t moving or the humidity stays high, you’re still going to get those drips. I appreciate you mentioning this because it makes me want to check out what’s actually happening with airflow before dropping a bunch more money on new windows. Sometimes the less exciting fixes are actually what you need.
You’re right, it’s easy to get tunnel vision with window specs and forget about the rest of the house. I’ve seen plenty of people swap out old windows for high-end replacements, only to have the same condensation issues because the real culprit was poor ventilation or a leaky bathroom fan. Have you checked if your bathroom fan is venting outside or just into the attic? Sometimes it’s something simple like that causing all the moisture to hang around. Also curious—have you noticed any difference in condensation between the rooms with new windows and the ones with old ones?
Sometimes it’s something simple like that causing all the moisture to hang around.
Yeah, I’ve been down that road. Swapped my old windows for fancy triple panes thinking it’d fix everything, but still had foggy glass until I figured out the bathroom fan was just dumping steam into the attic. It’s wild how often it’s the little stuff making a big mess. Don’t get discouraged—sometimes it just takes a bit of detective work.