Moved to Florida last year and installed some vinyl windows that were supposed to handle humidity, but um...they fog up constantly. Thought they'd be better. Curious if others had this issue or found something better suited for Florida's swampy air?
Had the same issue when I first moved down here about 10 years ago. Vinyl windows are usually decent, but in Florida's humidity, sometimes even the "humidity-proof" ones struggle a bit. The fogging happens because there's a big temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air, so condensation builds up pretty fast.
What helped me was making sure my AC wasn't set too cold—keeping it around 75-77°F made a surprising difference. Also, running ceiling fans or portable fans to keep air circulating near the windows reduced condensation noticeably. If it's really bad, you might want to check your home's ventilation—sometimes improving airflow with better exhaust fans or even a dehumidifier can help more than swapping out windows again.
I know it sounds counterintuitive (and kind of annoying after investing in new windows), but tweaking your indoor climate settings and airflow might be your best bet before spending more money. Hope you find something that works... Florida humidity doesn't play around!
"keeping it around 75-77°F made a surprising difference."
This is spot-on advice. We had similar frustrations after moving to Tampa—brand-new windows fogging up constantly. I initially blamed the window quality, but after adjusting our AC settings and adding a good dehumidifier, things improved dramatically. It felt strange raising the thermostat at first, but honestly, comfort-wise we barely noticed the difference, and the condensation issue is pretty much gone now. Worth a try before investing in more expensive fixes.
Had a similar problem when we first moved into our house. Thought it was the seals on our double-pane windows failing, but after several expensive replacements, the fogging persisted. Eventually realized it was mostly humidity-related. Adjusting the AC to around 76°F and getting a decent standalone dehumidifier made all the difference. Wish I'd tried that first... would've saved me quite a bit of money and hassle.
I get why humidity control helped for you, but honestly, sometimes it really is the window seals. Had a similar issue at my folks' place—humidity was fine, AC steady, but windows still looked like a horror movie set every morning. Ended up being the seals after all. Best way to check: clean the glass thoroughly, wait for a dry day, and if fogging still happens between the panes... sorry, it's probably the seals. At least you know for sure before shelling out cash, right?
sorry, it's probably the seals. At least you know for sure before shelling out cash, right?
Had the same issue a couple years back, and I was convinced it was humidity too. Tried dehumidifiers, adjusted the AC, even bought those moisture-absorbing packets—nothing really worked. Then my neighbor casually mentioned he had similar windows installed (vinyl, supposedly humidity-resistant) and they fogged up like crazy too. Turns out, like someone else mentioned earlier, it was actually the seals. Apparently, some vinyl windows just don't handle Florida's relentless humidity as advertised.
I ended up replacing mine with aluminum-framed windows that had better sealing and thermal breaks. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—figured it was just another sales pitch—but they've held up surprisingly well. Haven't had any fogging issues since. Not saying that's your exact problem, but if you've tried everything else humidity-wise, might be worth checking out the seals or considering a different window type altogether.
Yeah, seals are usually the culprit here, especially in humid climates. Vinyl windows are hit-or-miss—seen plenty fail prematurely despite the manufacturer's claims. Aluminum frames with thermal breaks are definitely a solid choice, but I've also had good luck recently with fiberglass frames due to their stability and resistance to thermal expansion. Curious if anyone's tried fiberglass windows long-term in high humidity regions like Florida...would appreciate some real-world feedback on those.
I've been thinking about fiberglass too, actually. My neighbor installed them about three years ago here in coastal Georgia—humidity central—and so far he's pretty happy. No fogging or seal issues yet. He did mention though that installation was key; apparently, even slight misalignment can cause trouble down the road. Makes me wonder, has anyone noticed if installation quality impacts fogging issues more than the frame material itself?
"Makes me wonder, has anyone noticed if installation quality impacts fogging issues more than the frame material itself?"
Good point about installation quality—I agree it's crucial—but honestly, I've seen well-installed vinyl windows fog up pretty badly after just a few years. My brother-in-law had a professional crew do his vinyl replacements, and they were meticulous with alignment and sealing. Still, within four years he had fogging issues. Makes me think frame material might matter more than we're giving it credit for...
That's interesting, hadn't thought about frame material playing such a big role. I've had wooden frames installed myself, and even though the installation wasn't exactly perfect (did it myself, learned as I went...), they've held up pretty well without much fogging. Makes me wonder if some materials just handle temperature changes or moisture differently? Anyway, good observation—definitely worth keeping in mind before my next window project.