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Double Glazing Condensation
[Deleted User]
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We had all new double glazing installed last June and we seem to be suffering badly with condensation - place is getting a shade mouldy which is worrying. The problem is mostly upstairs.
Does this mean its been badly fitted or is there something else I need to do?
Cheers
Does this mean its been badly fitted or is there something else I need to do?
Cheers
0
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What I'm really after is whether they have been fitted incorrectly or if I have a structural problem rather than how to solve the condensation issues. Since the windows are less than a year old they're still covered.
Then it's a ventilation issue.
If anything, it means your double glazing is working very well as moisture is not getting out of the small gaps where draughts used to get in.
Maybe give them a ring and explain
100 % right , i used to fit the stuff and the number of callbacks was crazy , and all it was down to was lack of ventilation , do the windows not have trickle vents ??? , i thought they had to have them nowadays , might be wrong on that point though
Correct, but I don't know when the building regs. changed. OP could Google that if the windows aren't fitted with the vents
As mentioned previously, Dettox Mould and Mildew remover ( it's in a green bottle) works a treat on the black mould that can gather, and helps prevent it from forming again, but be careful spraying it near fabric as it can take the colour out of it.
I panicked at first as I had spent over £4000 insulating the cottage over the last few years. I thought that some of my double glazing units had failed. However, I was recommended to investigate Heat Recovery Venitialtors (HRVs) as a possible quicky and easy solution to the mould and condensation. I had not heard of the technology before, so I was a bit sceptical to say the least. However, there is useful information available on the internet.
The idea is simple, a HRV box is installed in the attic which extracts stale moisture laden air from both bedrooms and is discharged through an outside vent in the roof, fresh air is drawn in through a separate outside vent again in the roof and heat is recovered from the expelled air and introduced to the fresh air at a rate of approximately 70% heat recovery. The fresh warmed air is then fed back in to the cottage from a vent located over the stairs. The unit runs constantly and quietly at a slight positive pressure, replenishing the cottage's interior air space with warm fresh air many times over a day.
I had an HRV unit installed a couple of months ago in the place of a noisy and expensive dehumidifier. The HRV was not cheap (over £1000), however, all my condensation problems were instantly eradicated following installation, no more condensation on the windows or puddles of water on bedroom window sills. The cottage's air quality is vastly improved. My cottage is slowly drying out and should cost much less to heat in the meantime as walls and interior air spaces are mush drier. I also understand that it meets all the latest building regulations and so should score well on the environmental categories of the Home Information Pack when I come to sell.
I hope this infomation helps............
Hello Webmuppet,
As a company we install DG, it's highly unlikely that you have a structural problem, even if that were the case, you would be experiencing bigger problems then condensation.
Not every house suits UPVC, DG can cause the problems you are experiencing, especially due to lack of ventilation or no movement of air.
It is as everyone is telling you a ventilation problem, it should not be to difficult a task to try to rectify.
Try this, purchase a 12-16 ins cheap Argos pedestal or desk fan.
Set it up in the worst room and leave on overnight, windows closed, then another night, with trickle vents open, see which improves things for you.
Obviously you can't have fans running all the time, you might also consider installing some vent bricks in the affected rooms.
That sounds very interesting, laburnum. Which firm did you use, and do you think it would be possible just to have an inlet/outlet on the ceiling of the landing?
I've just googled, but up to now could only see whole house systems.
I don't have a condensation problem, but it sounds as if it would be more economical than opening windows as I do.
There are a lot of companies out there, just google Heat Recovery Unit and/or Positive Input Ventilation to find a few companies to approach. However, do your detailed research to learn about the technology first rather than depend on the talents of a sales person to persuade you.
A very good leaflet to read is provided by the Energy Savings Trust at the following link:
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/.../GPG268%20-%20Energy%20efficient%20ventilation%20in%20dwellings.pdf
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/housingbuildings/GPG268%20-%20Energy%20efficient%20ventilation%20in%20dwellings.pdf
I'd rather put up with the condensation and wipe the windows down.
There's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want to cut down on your energy bills, by reducing heat losses through your windows or indeed, roofs, walls and the like, you need to insulate them in some manner.
If you don't then you'll lose heat.
If you do insulate, then you should bear in mind you've just blocked many of the leakage points, which will result in poor ventilation and thus give you humidity problems. To tackle this, you need to make sure you have both a good intake and extract points to allow air to circulate through the house.
What the lord giveth with one hand, the lord taketh with the other.
How about opening your windows during the day, when you're out? With reason of course...
That is your pregoative.
There should be trickle ventilators that should be left open, if there not it will cause condensation.
Replacement of double glazing comes under the Building Regulations, has done for a few years, were your windows fitted by FENSA approved contractors, if not, then you should arrange for approval under Building Regulations.
The vents were hardly noticeable but allowed air/moisture/spores to circulate and leave the building.
It was very successful. It worked for us.
The neighbours who laughed at us were still left with a problem and seemed happy to accept constant wiping down of windows during the winter and black mould in places!
Can you please clarify.
Was that 2 holes in each room? 1 in ceiling and 1 in floor?
Have condensation problems since wall and loft insulation installed - Have a dehumdifier at present....but this will only do 1 room at a time...
thanks
MilnrowLad
Some plaster was removed around the hole, a small piece of nylon mesh was put in over the hole, then replastered around the hole to fix the mesh in place. Then it just needed touching up/painting in.
From the outside the holes could not be detected, even inside noone would notice them until they searched for them.
It worked for us - after using dehumidifiers and everything else we could think of without real success.