We actually tried those moisture absorbers first winter in our house, and honestly...they filled up crazy fast and barely made a dent. Window film helped a bit more, but I'm thinking it's still just a band-aid. Maybe a proper ventilation system is the real fix here?
"Maybe a proper ventilation system is the real fix here?"
Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing. We tried window film too, and it helped a little, but still had puddles forming on colder days. Has anyone actually installed ventilation and seen a noticeable difference? Seems pricey...but maybe worth it?
Has anyone actually installed ventilation and seen a noticeable difference? Seems pricey...but maybe worth it?
Yeah, ventilation definitely makes a difference. We had a similar issue at our place—windows dripping nonstop in winter—and ended up putting in a basic HRV unit. Pretty much solved it overnight. Not cheap, true, but honestly worth every penny for comfort alone.
Ventilation can definitely help, but before dropping serious cash on an HRV, I'd suggest checking a few simpler things first:
- Are your bathroom/kitchen fans venting properly outside? Had a buddy whose kitchen fan was just dumping moisture into the attic—no wonder his windows looked like waterfalls.
- Have you tried running a dehumidifier temporarily to see if it helps?
- Also, double-check your window seals. Even small gaps can make condensation worse.
"Pretty much solved it overnight."
That's impressive...but I wonder if it's always that straightforward? Curious if anyone's installed ventilation and still had issues afterward.
Good call on checking the simpler stuff first. I had a similar issue at my cabin—windows looked like they'd been crying all night, every morning. Turns out my bathroom fan was venting straight into the attic insulation (facepalm moment). Once I rerouted it properly outside, things improved dramatically.
"Pretty much solved it overnight."
Wish mine had been that easy! Even after fixing the fan, I still had some stubborn condensation on colder nights. Ended up running a small dehumidifier for a week or two, and that finally did the trick. So yeah, ventilation helps a ton, but sometimes you gotta tackle it from multiple angles. Hang in there—mountain living is awesome once you get past these little quirks...
Had a similar battle myself—thought I'd nailed it after rerouting my dryer vent outside (previous owner had it dumping moisture straight into the crawlspace... genius move). Helped a ton, but still had some stubborn window sweat on chilly mornings. Ended up tweaking weatherstripping and sealing around windows, plus running fans occasionally to keep air moving. Took some patience, but eventually got there. Mountain homes definitely have their quirks, but they're worth the hassle once you dial things in. Hang tight, you're getting close!
Good advice overall, but I'd also double-check attic ventilation if you haven't yet. Had a client a while back who tried everything—caulking, weatherstripping, running fans... still had condensation issues. Turned out their attic wasn't venting moisture properly, causing damp air to settle around windows. Once we added some soffit and ridge vents, things improved dramatically. Have you looked into your attic setup at all? Might be worth a peek up there.
Yeah, attic ventilation is one of those sneaky things you never think about until it bites you. Had a similar issue a few years back—windows sweating buckets, tried all the usual fixes like caulking and weatherstripping, even bought one of those fancy dehumidifiers. Nothing really worked until I finally poked my head into the attic and realized it was basically a sauna up there. Added some ridge vents and soffit vents, and it was like magic... windows dried right up.
Honestly, it's worth checking out even if you think your attic's fine. Moisture buildup can cause way bigger headaches down the road (ask me how I know, lol). Good luck—hope you get it sorted before winter really kicks in.
Had a similar issue myself, and attic ventilation definitely helped, but I'd also suggest checking your indoor humidity levels. Grab a cheap hygrometer from the hardware store—ideally, you want indoor humidity around 30-50%. If it's higher, try running exhaust fans longer after showers or cooking. Sometimes it's not just the attic... moisture sneaks in from everyday activities too. Worth a shot before you start cutting holes for vents.
Yeah, good call on the hygrometer. I had windows dripping like crazy last winter and thought my house was haunted or something, lol. Turns out, running the bathroom fan a bit longer after showers made a huge difference. Also, don't underestimate plants—my wife's jungle of houseplants was pumping out moisture like a rainforest. Moved a few around and things improved noticeably. Worth checking out before you start drilling holes everywhere... good luck!