It’s kind of a balancing act... keep the heat in, but let the house breathe a bit.
That’s the trick, isn’t it? I remember one winter I sealed up every window and door—felt like I was living in a Ziploc bag. Sure enough, condensation started forming between the panes in my living room. Have you ever tried those trickle vents? Some folks swear by them, but I’ve had mixed results. Ever notice if certain rooms get worse than others, or is it just random?
Trickle vents can help, but honestly, they’re not a magic fix. Depends a lot on the house and how much moisture you’ve got going on inside. Kitchens and bathrooms usually get it the worst—cooking, showers, all that steam. I’ve seen some folks have better luck just cracking a window for ten minutes here and there instead of relying on vents alone.
One thing I always ask is, do you use any kind of humidifier in the winter? Sometimes people crank those up and don’t realize how much extra moisture they’re pumping into the air. Also, older windows with failed seals will fog up no matter what you do. Have you checked if it’s actual condensation or if the seal’s gone bad? That makes a big difference in what’ll work.
Yeah, I’ve been down the foggy window rabbit hole more winters than I care to admit. Trickle vents sound great in theory, but in my 1970s semi, they mostly just let in a cold draft and made me regret not investing in thicker socks. I do agree about the kitchen and bathroom being the main culprits—my bathroom turns into a tropical rainforest after one shower, and I’m not even running a humidifier.
Funny thing, I used to think more insulation meant less condensation, but then I realized if you’re sealing up a house like Tupperware and not giving moisture anywhere to go, it just finds your windows. Cracking a window for a few minutes after cooking or showering actually made more difference than any fancy vent for me. It’s like giving your house a chance to exhale.
About the seals—totally spot on. Had a double-glazed unit that kept fogging up no matter what I did. Turned out the seal had failed and there was water between the panes... nothing short of replacement fixed that one. If you get condensation inside the glass sandwich (not just on the surface), it’s game over for that window.
One thing I learned the hard way: drying laundry indoors is basically an open invitation for condensation. Tried using one of those heated airers last winter and my living room windows looked like a car windshield after a rainstorm. Maybe it’s just my place, but unless you’ve got an extractor fan working overtime, it’s better to dry clothes outside or in a well-ventilated room.
I guess there’s no silver bullet—just lots of little tweaks that add up. Still waiting for someone to invent self-drying windows... until then, it’s me with a squeegee and some wishful thinking.