Funny timing—I swapped out a bunch of old double-panes for triple-pane last winter, and yeah, condensation showed up in places I didn’t expect. Before, we’d get fog on the glass itself, but after the upgrade, it was mostly around the frames and even a bit on the drywall nearby. Ended up dialing back the humidifier and running the bath fan more often. Air sealing and fancy glass are awesome, but they really do change how the house “breathes.” It’s a bit of a balancing act.
Air sealing and fancy glass are awesome, but they really do change how the house “breathes.” It’s a bit of a balancing act.
Yeah, I’ve noticed that too—tight windows make everything feel less drafty, but suddenly you’re chasing condensation around like it’s a game of whack-a-mole. Did you find your heating bill actually dropped much after the upgrade? I always wonder if the savings really add up, especially with all the extra fiddling with fans and humidifiers.
Yeah, after I swapped out the old single-panes for double-glazed, my heating bill dropped a bit—maybe 15-20% over the winter? Not quite as dramatic as I’d hoped, but noticeable. The weird part is, now I’m running the bathroom fan more to keep the windows from fogging up. It’s like you win on drafts but lose on moisture. Still, I’ll take less cold air sneaking in any day... just wish I didn’t have to babysit the dehumidifier so much.
That’s interesting—did you notice the humidity issue right away after switching, or did it creep up over time? I’ve heard the tighter seals on double-glazed windows can trap more moisture inside, but I always wondered if it’s really that noticeable. Makes me wonder if we’re just trading one headache for another sometimes... Have you tried cracking a window in the bathroom instead of running the fan? I’m always skeptical about how much of a difference those little tweaks actually make, but maybe it’s worth a shot.
I’ve heard the tighter seals on double-glazed windows can trap more moisture inside, but I always wondered if it’s really that noticeable. Makes me wonder if we’re just trading one headache for another sometimes...
That’s exactly what I keep going back and forth on. After we upgraded to double glazing last winter, I noticed the condensation on the inside of the glass was a lot more obvious, especially in the mornings. It didn’t happen right away, but once we had a few cold snaps, it definitely crept up. I get that the energy savings are real—our bills dropped a bit—but now I’m dealing with wiping down sills every other day.
I’ve tried cracking a window in the bathroom too, but honestly, it doesn’t seem to make much difference compared to running the fan. Maybe it’s just our setup or how airtight the rest of the house is? Sometimes these small fixes feel more like wishful thinking than actual solutions.
At this point, I’m not sure if big windows are worth the trade-off. They look great and save some money, but then you’re stuck managing moisture in new ways. It’s always something, isn’t it...
At this point, I’m not sure if big windows are worth the trade-off. They look great and save some money, but then you’re stuck managing moisture in new ways. It’s always something, isn’t it...
It really is always something. I had the same debate with myself before we swapped out our old single panes for double glazing. On one hand, the living room feels way less drafty now and the heating bill actually surprised me this winter (in a good way). But yeah, the condensation thing is real—especially on the bigger windows in the kitchen. I’ve found that if we don’t keep the extractor fan running after cooking, I’m wiping down puddles every morning.
I think a lot of it comes down to how well your house breathes. Ours is an old brick place, so sealing everything up tight with new windows just shifted the moisture problem around. Not sure there’s a perfect answer unless you go all-in with ventilation systems, and that’s a whole other expense. Still, I’d rather have the lower bills and deal with a bit of extra maintenance. Just wish someone warned me about the daily towel routine...
Just wish someone warned me about the daily towel routine...
That’s a common surprise after upgrading windows, especially in older properties. I’ve seen a lot of folks underestimate how much tighter seals change indoor humidity patterns. Did you look into trickle vents or mechanical ventilation when you did your install? Sometimes just adding a vent above the window frame can make a decent difference, though it’s not always a perfect fix. Curious if you’ve noticed any mold issues starting near the frames, or is it just surface condensation so far?
Funny, I had the same thing happen after fitting new double glazing in a 1930s semi—didn’t expect to be wiping down the sills every morning. The first winter, condensation was just on the glass, but by spring, I noticed tiny black spots creeping into the corners. Ended up retrofitting trickle vents, which helped a bit, but honestly, it’s not a total cure. I also started cracking the window open a touch while cooking or drying clothes. It’s a bit of a balancing act—tight windows save on heating, but you trade that for more moisture management.
That’s a classic case with older homes—once you tighten everything up, the moisture’s got nowhere to go. I see this a lot, especially with 1920s-50s builds. Trickle vents help, but they’re not always a silver bullet, especially if you’ve got a busy kitchen or people drying washing inside.
A couple of things I’ve seen work: first, make sure extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen are actually venting outside (not just recirculating). You’d be surprised how often folks think they’re sorted, but it’s just blowing damp air back in. Second, check if your walls have insulation—sometimes cold spots on uninsulated corners attract condensation and that dreaded black mould.
Out of curiosity, did you notice any difference in your heating bills after fitting the bigger double-glazed windows? Some customers tell me the extra light means less need for lamps during the day, but others reckon the extra glass offsets any savings. Wondering if it balanced out for you?
I’ll be honest, I’m not totally convinced bigger double-glazed windows are always a win for heating bills.
—that’s been my experience too, especially on colder days. The sunlight is nice, but if you’ve got a north-facing wall, it can still feel chilly near the glass. On the plus side, I do love the extra daylight… just wish it translated into more savings!“others reckon the extra glass offsets any savings”