Yeah, condensation popped up for me too after I sealed everything up tight—almost felt like I traded drafts for foggy windows. Ended up cracking a window just a smidge on milder days, which weirdly helped. Old houses, new problems, right?
That’s so true—tightening everything up really does swap one issue for another sometimes. I dealt with the same thing last winter. Cracking a window worked for me, too, just enough to let the moisture out but not lose all the heat. It’s kind of a balancing act, isn’t it? Old houses definitely keep us on our toes. Good to know I’m not the only one juggling drafts and foggy glass.
Funny, I was just thinking about this the other day—my place is from the 50s and it’s like every fix comes with a new quirk. I tried sealing up all the cracks last fall, but then the condensation started showing up on the windows. Had to backtrack and leave one window cracked just a bit, even in the cold. It’s such a weird dance between keeping things dry and not freezing. You’re definitely not alone—sometimes it feels like these old houses are testing us just to see what we’ll try next.
It’s such a weird dance between keeping things dry and not freezing. You’re definitely not alone—sometimes it feels like these old houses are testing us just to see what we’ll try next.
That’s the classic old house challenge, right? You seal up every draft, then suddenly you’re dealing with condensation or even mold. I’ve found that sometimes it’s less about caulk vs. weather stripping and more about getting some controlled ventilation in there—maybe a trickle vent if you’re up for a small project. Not everyone likes the idea, but it does help balance moisture without letting all the heat out. It’s a balancing act, for sure.
That’s exactly it—sometimes I feel like my 1920s place is just daring me to fix one thing so it can throw another curveball. I went all-in on weather stripping around my kitchen window last winter, thinking I’d finally beat the drafts, but then the glass started fogging up every morning. Turns out, a little airflow isn’t the enemy after all. I haven’t tried trickle vents yet, but I did crack the window just a hair and that actually helped more than I expected. It’s funny how chasing “airtight” can backfire... anyone else get that weird musty smell if things are sealed up too tight?
Definitely had that musty smell issue after sealing up our bathroom window too tight. I thought blocking every gap would help with heating costs, but the condensation got worse and things started smelling off. Seems like older houses really need some level of passive ventilation to keep moisture in check. Has anyone tried those humidity-controlled vents, or do they just complicate things even more?
Musty smells after tightening up a bathroom are more common than people think. I’ve seen it a lot—folks seal every crack thinking it’ll save a bundle on heating, but then they’re fighting condensation and that weird damp odor. It’s a tough balance, especially in older homes where “drafty” was basically built into the design.
Humidity-controlled vents are interesting. I’ve installed a few, mostly in bathrooms and kitchens. They’re supposed to open and close depending on the moisture in the air, which sounds great in theory. In practice, though, I’ve noticed a couple of things: First, they do help with moisture, but only if the rest of the room has some way for fresh air to get in. If everything’s sealed up tight, even those vents can’t do much. Second, they’re not totally maintenance-free—dust and grime can mess with the sensors over time, so you might end up cleaning them more than you’d expect.
Honestly, sometimes a simple trickle vent or even just leaving the door cracked does as much good as any gadget. But I get wanting something automated, especially if you’re not home all day to air things out.
Have you tried running a fan or cracking the window just a bit after showers? Sometimes that’s all it takes to keep things from getting funky. But yeah, I wouldn’t say humidity-controlled vents complicate things too much—just don’t expect them to be a magic bullet if the room’s already airtight.
Curious if anyone else has had one of those vents actually solve the problem long-term... because in my experience, it’s usually a mix of solutions rather than just one fix.
Honestly, sometimes a simple trickle vent or even just leaving the door cracked does as much good as any gadget.
I’ll second that—sometimes the old-school tricks are hard to beat. I’ve seen folks go all-in on sealing up their windows and then call me out because the bathroom smells like a damp basement. Once, I replaced weather stripping for a guy who’d caulked every seam, and it just trapped moisture inside. Ever tried using those little vent stops on the window sash? They let you crack it just enough without losing all your heat. Curious—where exactly is the rain sneaking in? Sill, frame, or somewhere else? That can make a big difference in what actually works.
Funny how we can overthink these things, right? My house is from the 70s, and the windows are original—so, not exactly airtight. I used to go wild with the caulk gun every fall, thinking I was sealing out drafts. Turns out, I was also sealing in all the humidity. Ended up with foggy windows and a musty smell that just wouldn’t quit.
I’ve had rain sneak in around the bottom corners of one window, right at the sill. Tried weather stripping first, but it didn’t do much since the water was actually getting in from a tiny gap where the frame meets the wall. Caulk helped there, but I left a little space up top for air flow (old trick from my dad). Not perfect, but the smell’s gone and no more puddles on the sill.
Honestly, sometimes a cracked window and a bathroom fan do more than any fancy sealant. Just gotta pick your battles—too much sealing and you’re living in a terrarium. Too little and you’re mopping up after every storm...
- Good move leaving a gap for airflow—oversealing does way more harm than folks realize.
- Caulk’s usually my go-to for those frame-to-wall leaks, but if you’re still seeing moisture, could be flashing or siding issues too.
- Curious—have you checked the exterior for old, cracked caulk or gaps under the sill? Sometimes the real culprit’s outside, not the window itself.