Thermal curtains really do make a noticeable difference. I put some up in our drafty guest room last year, and even my skeptical partner admitted it felt warmer. Glad your cat's cooperating—mine still thinks they're climbing walls...
"even my skeptical partner admitted it felt warmer."
Yeah, thermal curtains can definitely help, especially with drafts. But if you're still noticing foggy windows, it might be worth checking your window seals or glazing. Condensation usually means there's moisture getting in somewhere. I had a client last winter who thought curtains solved everything, but turns out their window seals were shot. Once we fixed those, the difference was night and day...and their cat finally stopped pawing at the glass!
Totally agree about the window seals. We had thermal curtains for a while, and they definitely helped with warmth, but the fogging didn't fully stop until we redid the caulking around our windows. It was surprising how much moisture was sneaking in through tiny gaps. Plus, fixing that helped cut down on mold spots forming along the edges—bonus points for less cleaning, haha.
"It was surprising how much moisture was sneaking in through tiny gaps."
Yeah, those tiny gaps are sneaky for sure. We had similar issues—thought curtains would be enough, but nope. Glad you finally got it sorted, must feel great having one less winter hassle to deal with.
"thought curtains would be enough, but nope."
Yeah, curtains alone rarely cut it. I mean, they're great for warmth and privacy, but moisture control? Not so much. I've found that even sealing tiny gaps doesn't always fully solve the issue—especially in older homes like mine. Last winter, I sealed everything I could find, but still had some fogging. Ended up getting a small dehumidifier for the worst room, and honestly, it made a huge difference. It's surprising how much moisture builds up just from breathing and cooking, even if your windows are airtight. Glad you're sorted now, though—nothing beats finally seeing clearly through your windows on a chilly morning.
I get your point about curtains—they're nice for comfort, but moisture control is a whole different beast. Air sealing helps, but honestly, ventilation matters more than people realize. I installed some trickle vents last year after battling condensation, and they've been surprisingly effective. Granted, you lose a tiny bit of heat, but the trade-off was worth it for clear windows and less mold risk. Have you considered tweaking your ventilation setup at all? Curious how others handle it...
"Granted, you lose a tiny bit of heat, but the trade-off was worth it for clear windows and less mold risk."
Agreed—trickle vents are underrated. I've seen clients hesitant about losing heat, but once installed, they rarely regret it. Another thing to consider is bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans; upgrading those can make a noticeable difference too. Curious if anyone's tried humidity-sensing fans...are they worth the extra cost?
I've seen clients hesitant about losing heat, but once installed, they rarely regret it. Another thing to consider is bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans; upgrading those can make a noticeable differ...
I've had humidity-sensing fans in my bathrooms for about two years now. Honestly, they're pretty decent...but not exactly life-changing. They do kick on automatically when someone's showering, which is nice if you have forgetful family members (like mine). But sometimes they trigger randomly on humid summer days, even when nobody's using the bathroom. If you're already disciplined about turning fans on manually, I'm not convinced they're worth the extra cash. Upgraded exhaust fans alone usually do the trick just fine.
"sometimes they trigger randomly on humid summer days, even when nobody's using the bathroom."
Yeah, I've noticed that too...mine kick in randomly after heavy rain. Upgrading regular fans and cracking a window slightly usually works just as well—and it's cheaper.
Have you tried checking your humidity sensor placement? Sometimes they're installed in spots that stay damp longer, like near a vent or window, making them trigger unnecessarily. I used to have the same issue after rainy spells until I moved mine to a more central spot—made a noticeable difference. Cracking a window helps short-term, but proper sensor placement might save you from having to upgrade fans altogether...just a thought.