Windows icing up again - time for an upgrade or ghost story?

I've gotta say, sealing gaps is a good start, but honestly, sometimes it just feels like chasing ghosts - pun definitely intended. I dealt with something similar last winter, and no matter how much caulk or tape I threw at the problem, the icing kept popping up in random spots. Turns out, it wasn't gaps or even window orientation causing the issue; it was actually poor indoor air circulation and humidity buildup. Once I started running a small fan occasionally and cracked a window for ventilation (yeah, counterintuitive, I know), things improved dramatically.

Double-glazed windows are great and all, but they're also pricey. Before you drop serious cash on an upgrade, maybe check your humidity levels first? Could save you from shelling out big bucks on fancy windows when a cheap hygrometer and a bit of airflow tweaking might do the trick...

"Turns out, it wasn't gaps or even window orientation causing the issue; it was actually poor indoor air circulation and humidity buildup."

Yeah, I get where you're coming from, but honestly, sometimes it's not just humidity. Last year I went through this whole song and dance myself - checked humidity levels, got a hygrometer, even ran fans here and there... still had ice creeping up on the windows. Eventually, I bit the bullet and replaced just one of my worst windows with a double-glazed unit. Night-and-day difference. No more ice, no more condensation puddles on the sill.

I'm not saying everyone needs to rush out and drop cash on new windows (they're definitely pricey), but sometimes older windows just aren't cutting it anymore, especially if they're single-pane or really outdated. If you've already tried controlling humidity and airflow without luck, it might be time to at least consider an upgrade for your trouble spots. Maybe start small - replace one window first and see if that helps before committing to the whole house?

I see your point about upgrading windows, and yeah, double-glazing can definitely help. But honestly, I've seen plenty of cases where people jump straight to window replacements without fully addressing the indoor environment first. A friend of mine had brand-new double-glazed windows installed, thinking it'd solve everything, but still ended up with condensation issues because their ventilation was terrible. They eventually installed a proper exhaust fan in the bathroom and kitchen, and suddenly the problem vanished.

Not saying new windows aren't worth it - they can be a huge improvement - but sometimes they're just masking an underlying issue. If your humidity is consistently high or airflow is poor, even the best windows might struggle. I'd suggest making sure you've really tackled ventilation first - maybe even consider a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) if your budget allows. It can make a surprising difference, and you might find you don't need to replace as many windows as you thought...

Yeah, ventilation can definitely be the hidden culprit. We had ice forming on our bedroom windows every winter - thought it was just old windows - but after installing a bathroom fan and cracking open vents, it cleared right up.

"sometimes they're just masking an underlying issue"

Exactly this...sometimes it's simpler (and cheaper) than we think!

Had a similar issue a few years back - thought for sure it was the windows, even got quotes for replacements (ouch). But then a friend suggested checking humidity levels. Turns out our humidifier was set way too high, and dialing it back made a huge difference. Sometimes it's not even ventilation alone, but just tweaking the indoor humidity can save you from dropping serious cash on new windows...or ghostbusters.

Totally agree about humidity being a sneaky culprit. Had the same issue last winter - windows icing up, condensation dripping down, the whole haunted house vibe. Thought for sure I was looking at a pricey window replacement too, but then I started wondering...could it be something simpler?

Checked humidity first (like you did), and yep, it was way too high. But even after dialing it back, I still had some icing on the coldest nights. So I dug a bit deeper - have you checked your window seals lately? Turns out mine were pretty worn out, letting cold air seep in and causing extra condensation. Replacing those seals was cheap and easy, and it made a noticeable difference.

Also, do you have heavy curtains or blinds? I noticed that when I kept mine closed overnight, it trapped moisture against the glass and made things worse. Leaving them slightly open or cracked helped air circulate better and reduced icing significantly.

I mean, sure, new windows would probably solve everything - but who wants to drop that kind of cash if you don't have to? Unless you're secretly hoping for a ghost story to tell at parties...

Had the same issue a couple years back and went through pretty much the same troubleshooting steps. Humidity was definitely part of it, but even after getting that under control, I still had some stubborn icing on really cold nights. Your point about window seals is spot-on - mine were cracked and brittle, letting in drafts and making the condensation worse.

If anyone else is dealing with this, here's what worked for me:

First, check your seals closely. Run your hand around the edges of the windows on a cold day - you'll feel any drafts pretty quickly. If you find gaps or cracks, replacing the weatherstripping is surprisingly easy. Just peel off the old stuff, clean the surface with rubbing alcohol to remove residue, and stick on new foam or rubber strips (hardware stores have tons of options). Took me maybe an hour to do all my windows, and it made a noticeable difference.

Second, curtains definitely matter. I used to keep heavy blackout curtains closed tight overnight thinking they'd insulate better, but turns out they trapped moisture against the glass. Now I leave them open just a crack at night - enough to let air circulate - and icing has been minimal since.

One more thing that helped was running a small fan occasionally to improve airflow near problem windows. Nothing fancy, just a cheap desk fan set on low for an hour or two in the evening. It seemed to help evaporate any lingering moisture before it could freeze.

Honestly, unless your windows are ancient or seriously damaged, I'd hold off on replacements until you've tried these simpler fixes first. New windows are great if you need them, but they're pricey and might not even solve the issue completely if humidity or airflow is still a problem.

And hey, if none of this works...maybe you really do have ghosts? At least you'd have a good story for next Halloween.

Good tips here - I agree that weatherstripping is usually the best first step. A couple more things I've noticed from experience:

- Check the caulking around the outside window frames too. Even tiny cracks can let cold air in, causing condensation inside.
- Storm windows (if you don't already have them) can make a huge difference. They're a cheaper upgrade than full replacements and really cut down on icing issues.

But hey, if it really is ghosts...good luck with that.

"Storm windows (if you don't already have them) can make a huge difference. They're a cheaper upgrade than full replacements and really cut down on icing issues."

Definitely agree with this. I put storm windows on our older house a couple winters back, and it was night and day - no more ice buildup and way less drafty overall. Also, one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is indoor humidity levels. If your home's humidity is too high, even decent windows can ice up pretty easily. We had that issue after installing new windows, which drove me crazy until I realized our humidifier was set way too high. Dialed it back a bit, and the icing stopped almost immediately.

And yeah, caulking is underrated. I found some tiny gaps around our frames last fall - barely noticeable - but sealing them up made a noticeable difference in comfort.

But hey, if none of this works...maybe it's time to call in the ghostbusters? 😉

Good points on humidity and storm windows - definitely worth checking out. Curious though, has anyone tried insulating curtains or window film kits? I used those shrink-wrap plastic films a couple years ago when renting an older place, and honestly they worked better than expected. Not the prettiest solution, but it kept the ice away and made the room feel noticeably warmer.

Also wondering if window orientation makes much difference here? Our north-facing windows always seem to ice up first, even after we upgraded the frames. South-facing windows rarely have issues...maybe it's something to do with sunlight exposure?

Either way, probably not ghosts - but who knows at this point, haha.