Upgrading windows definitely helps. I replaced mine about five years ago—went from old single-pane to double-pane vinyl—and it cut down condensation noticeably. Didn't completely eliminate it, but now I barely have to wipe them down, even at 45% humidity. Plus, the house feels warmer overall, which was a nice bonus. It's not cheap upfront, but long-term comfort and less hassle makes it worth considering if you're planning to stay put for a while...
"It's not cheap upfront, but long-term comfort and less hassle makes it worth considering if you're planning to stay put for a while..."
True, upgrading windows can help, but honestly, sometimes it's more about airflow and humidity control than the windows themselves. I had double-pane windows installed a few years back, and while it did help somewhat, the real game changer was adding better ventilation—especially in the bathroom and kitchen. Cheaper fix, too. Just something else to consider before dropping serious cash on new windows...
"sometimes it's more about airflow and humidity control than the windows themselves."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Did you also check your attic insulation? Last winter, I noticed condensation issues even after upgrading my windows, turned out heat loss in the attic was causing moisture buildup. Once I topped up the insulation, problem pretty much disappeared. Might be worth looking into before spending big bucks on window replacements...
Good call on attic insulation, hadn't thought of that angle. Last year I went down a similar rabbit hole—new windows, sealing drafts, the whole deal—but still had fogging issues. Finally realized my bathroom exhaust fan wasn't venting properly. Moist air was just getting trapped inside. Fixed the ducting and installed a timer switch so it runs longer after showers... problem solved. Definitely learned it's worth checking ventilation before dropping serious cash on upgrades.
Good tip about the exhaust fan timer switch—I did something similar a while back. A lot of people underestimate how much moisture bathrooms can dump into the house, especially in colder months. I found that even with proper venting, sometimes the duct runs are too long or have too many bends, causing condensation buildup inside the ducts themselves. Wrapping mine with insulation helped quite a bit.
Also, if you haven't yet checked your humidity levels indoors, it's worth getting a cheap hygrometer. Keeping indoor humidity around 30-40% in winter helps prevent window fogging and mold issues.
Did you notice any difference in overall humidity after fixing your bathroom vent? Curious if others saw immediate improvements or if it took some time to stabilize...
"Wrapping mine with insulation helped quite a bit."
Good call on insulating the ducts—I did that last winter and definitely saw improvements, though it wasn't instant. Took maybe a week or two before humidity levels really stabilized. I think moisture trapped inside the ducts needed time to fully dry out? Anyway, patience paid off... windows have been noticeably clearer since then, and the hygrometer readings finally stay consistent around 35-40%.
Insulating ducts can definitely make a noticeable difference, especially if your humidity was fluctuating a lot before. Did you happen to check the duct seams and joints for leaks before wrapping them? I've found that sealing those up first with mastic or foil tape can really boost the effectiveness of insulation. Moisture buildup inside ducts usually happens when warm, humid air hits colder surfaces—so once insulated, it makes sense you'd see gradual improvement as everything dries out.
Also curious, did you notice any changes in your heating efficiency or energy bills after insulating? Sometimes clearer windows are just the most visible benefit, but there might be other subtle improvements too. Either way, sounds like you're on the right track... nice job tackling this!
Totally agree about sealing the seams first—I learned that the hard way. When I first moved in, I jumped straight into insulating without checking for leaks, and it didn't help much at all. Ended up peeling it back, sealing everything with foil tape, and then re-insulating. Huge difference after that. Haven't tracked my bills closely enough yet to notice a big change, but the house definitely feels warmer overall, especially in rooms farthest from the furnace. Glad to hear someone else had similar results... makes me feel like I'm finally figuring this homeowner stuff out.
Did you notice any difference in window condensation after sealing up those seams? I had a similar issue—thought insulation alone would fix my foggy windows, but nope... sealing leaks around frames made the real difference. Curious if you saw the same thing.
I noticed something pretty similar actually. At first, I thought insulation would be the magic bullet too—spent a whole weekend adding extra insulation around the windows and even in the attic above. It helped a bit with drafts, but the condensation was still there every morning, driving me nuts.
Then I stumbled onto sealing the window frames after reading some random DIY blog. Figured it couldn't hurt, right? Grabbed a tube of caulk and sealed all around the edges, especially those sneaky little gaps you barely notice until you're up close. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, but within a couple days, the difference was noticeable. Way less moisture buildup on the glass, and after about a week, condensation was almost completely gone.
Did you use silicone caulk or something else? I went with silicone because it's supposed to handle temperature swings better, but I've heard mixed opinions on that. Also curious if anyone tried weatherstripping tape instead—does it hold up as well? I've been tempted to give it a shot on my basement windows since they're older and trickier to seal neatly with caulk.
Funny thing is, I spent way more time and money on insulation initially, thinking that was the key. Turns out a $5 tube of caulk did more than all that insulation combined... go figure.