Finally Beat the Foggy Window Battle This Winter

"Ran bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans consistently after showers or cooking, cracked windows briefly when weather allowed, and even moved some houseplants around (turns out they were adding a surprising amount of moisture)."

Glad you mentioned the exhaust fans—I think they're underrated in this whole humidity game. I've found that sealing alone just traps moisture inside, especially if your home is naturally prone to higher humidity (like mine). Last winter, I went through the same frustration—sealed every nook and cranny, but still woke up to condensation on the windows. Finally got serious about ventilation: installed timer switches on my bathroom fans to run 20-30 mins after showers, and made sure the kitchen exhaust was always on while cooking. Also started leaving bedroom doors open during the day to help airflow. Within a week or two, noticeable improvement—no more foggy windows, and even the air felt fresher. So yeah, sealing helps, but getting humidity balanced through proper ventilation is the real game changer. Glad you figured it out too!

Good call on the timer switches for the bathroom fans—I hadn't thought of that. I've been manually flipping mine on and off, but half the time I forget to turn them off, or worse, don't run them long enough. Timer switches sound like a pretty simple upgrade...might have to give that a shot.

Also, interesting point about houseplants. I never realized they could add that much moisture indoors. I have a bunch of plants in my living room, and now I'm wondering if they're contributing to my window condensation issues too. Did you notice a big difference after moving them around, or was it more subtle?

Anyway, glad you got it sorted. It's always satisfying when you finally figure out these little home mysteries.

Timer switches were a game changer for me too—set it and forget it, no more damp bathrooms. About the plants, I shuffled mine around the house and honestly, the difference was subtle but noticeable after a week or two. Maybe try spacing yours out or grouping fewer together? Also, have you checked if your humidity levels are consistently high...might be worth grabbing a cheap hygrometer to pinpoint the issue.

Timer switches definitely help, especially in bathrooms where moisture builds up fast. Curious though, have you checked your window seals lately? Even small gaps or worn-out weatherstripping can make condensation worse, no matter how well you manage humidity indoors. Might be worth a quick inspection—sometimes the fix is simpler than you'd think. Glad you're seeing progress with the plants though...small tweaks really do add up over time.

"Even small gaps or worn-out weatherstripping can make condensation worse, no matter how well you manage humidity indoors."

Yep, totally agree with this. In my experience, a lot of folks underestimate just how much difference proper sealing makes. Timer switches and humidity control are great, but if your windows aren't sealed right, you're basically fighting an uphill battle.

Couple quick things to check:

- Run your hand around the window frame on a windy day—feel any drafts? That's a sign your seals might be compromised.
- If you've got double-pane windows, check for fogging between the panes. Unfortunately, that's usually a sign of seal failure and means replacement is likely needed.
- Don't ignore caulking either; sometimes it's not the weatherstripping but old caulk that's cracked or shrunk.

Last winter I replaced seals for a customer who'd been struggling with condensation for years... after that quick fix, they couldn't believe how clear their windows stayed. Glad to hear you're already noticing improvements though—it's always satisfying when these minor changes pay off.

I learned this the hard way last winter. Thought I had humidity under control with a dehumidifier running constantly, but still woke up to foggy windows every morning. Turns out the caulking around my windows was cracked and barely hanging on. Recaulked everything one weekend—honestly didn't expect much—but it made a huge difference. Sometimes it's the little things you overlook that matter most...

Great point about caulking—it's surprising how much difference those small details make. A few other things I've found helpful for foggy windows:

- Check your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. If they're not venting properly, humidity builds up fast.
- Keep curtains or blinds slightly open at night to improve airflow around windows.
- If you have double-pane windows, make sure the seals haven't failed. I had one window that was always fogging up, turned out the seal was shot and moisture was trapped inside.
- Plants can add humidity too...I moved a few away from windows and noticed less condensation.

Glad you figured it out though—it's always satisfying when a weekend project actually pays off.

Good tips here, especially about the exhaust fans. I overlooked mine for years until I realized the bathroom fan was barely moving air—cleaned it out and replaced the motor, and it made a noticeable difference. Another thing I've found helpful is running a small dehumidifier overnight in rooms that get particularly damp. Doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive, just enough to keep moisture levels down.

"Another thing I've found helpful is running a small dehumidifier overnight in rooms that get particularly damp."

That's a great point about the dehumidifier. I had a similar issue in our guest room—windows constantly fogging up, especially on colder nights. Tried all sorts of quick fixes, but nothing really worked until I picked up a small, budget-friendly dehumidifier. Honestly didn't expect much, but it made a huge difference. Now the windows stay clear, and the room feels fresher overall. Sometimes it's the simplest solutions that do the trick...

The dehumidifier suggestion is definitely solid advice, especially for rooms prone to moisture buildup. But one thing I've noticed from experience is that sometimes foggy windows are actually a symptom of deeper issues—like poor window seals or inadequate insulation around the frames. A few winters back, I had a client who kept running a dehumidifier every night, and while it did help temporarily, the condensation kept coming back. Turned out the real culprit was worn-out window seals letting cold air seep in and creating temperature differences on the glass surface.

Replacing those seals and adding some weatherstripping made a huge difference—no more fogging, and they didn't even need the dehumidifier after that. So while I agree that

"sometimes it's the simplest solutions that do the trick..."