Serious window condensation

[rcx132]

The DIY forums are useless, maybe someone here knows more. I had new double glazing installed a year ago. It's a typical terraced house, and in the bay windows I am getting serious condensation which wasn't there before. It pools on the inner window sill and then drips down the wall and there's a stain and mould now.

The window company says it's nothing to do with the window and that the windows cannot cause condensation. They said to ventilate the place better, so we leave the window slightly ajar now and that helps.

Is this normal? They are PVC double glazed.

 

[Shox Dr]

Yes. Something is causing the moisture, not the wall or windows, it's merely condensing on the cold wall and windows

 

[Wozzaaah]

Do you dry clothes indoors on airers or on the radiators?

 

[mr migwire]

the windows should have trickle vents along the tops which are there to help stop condensation,

 

[mr migwire]

must be a damp environment to have moisture appear.

 

[Omniata]

Sorry, re-read your post, get a dehumidifier for a couple of weeks or more, looks like damp has drawn into the property...

 

[knighty]

as above, you need some ventilation

chances are old windows had a trickle vent built in, or they weren't that air tight


Omnita posted while I was typing, I was just about to suggest a dehumidifier too, it'll dry the place out nice... ok it might use 200watts of power you're paying for... but really you just end up with 200watts of extra heat so it's not really a waste this time of year :-)

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Any signs of cracks on the outside where water/rain might be getting blow in?

 

[Omniata]

Is this downstairs, is it a cavity wall and has the DPC been breached?

Edit: I'd hazard a guess that water is getting in under the window cill, from outside, or down the edge of the windows, poorly sealed...
Doesn't look like there is a baypole in the corner, that would cause issues for sealing, etc, water will pool underneath.

 

[gaz1]

I need a photo from outside first to advise more the damp patch is all the way up to the sill area on the inside of it there is also mold on the plastic at the joint of the silicone to the window

 

[Wozzaaah]

He does say the damp patch is a result of the condensation pooling on the sill and running down the wall.

 

[Omniata]

That's a lot of water just for condensation though, and two years after the install is a bit much.

If there was that much "natural condensation" I'd of expected it within a week of the windows being put in.

The fact it's so intense now looks like the condensation is a result of the water evaporating from an already saturated wall and plaster...
I'd be looking to see if the outside silicone joints have breached, and if there's a piece of 2x2 in the corner instead if a proper 90° baypole coupler, if it is timber it's more than likely rotten now.

Edit: Is there evidence of damp anywhere else in the house?

 

[steveo3002]

were the old ones draughty ? the more you seal up a house the more it will happen , moisture from cooking , washing and breathing will all collect if its not getting out

 

[gaz1]

its not that as i suspect the corner joint has not been insulated when being installed its the corner of the bay that can cause this to happen as the corner piece will just have air in the middle but the insides are just butt jointed together

the result is damp right in the corner of the joint due to being cold it will be right down the joint of the windows

an outside photo will show if its a clip on edge seal

 

[brightspark]

most modern houses are that sealed up . steam from kettles driers and irons along with your bteath cause that much condensation it cant escape get a decent dehumidifier I get a gallon of water out of our house every 2 days

 

[roofman]

That looks like its born from the corner of the frame outside...how has he weather sealed the corner? is it just a butt joint with silacone or has it been factory welded. Looking at the stain it starts at the top as it spreads going down as apposed to coming from the ground and spreading out upwards iff you get my jist....

 

[Omniata]

That looks like its born from the corner of the frame outside...how has he weather sealed the corner? is it just a butt joint with silacone or has it been factory welded. Looking at the stain it starts at the top as it spreads going down as apposed to coming from the ground and spreading out upwards iff you get my jist....

If it's not sealed properly on the outside corners of the left hand frame I'd expect the water is running down the edges and under the frame, or under the outside cill.
A standard 90° baypole "should" have been used, with "bay-jacks" if it's load bearing.

How long has it been like this?

Edit: There's a crack under the left hand side of the left hand window, did they construct the bay, or was it existing? This is really important, I hate to say it but it looks like a "bodged job".

 

[gg280t]

Hi, Sorry to say it's normal at this time of year as the warm humide air will condense on the colder glass. Have come across this problem many times as i was the original "Window Doctor service" in the UK many years ago. As you have been advised will help,but it's not good leaving the windows on the "night vent" this time of year. The only real solution is to replace the inner bottom gaskets with a "condensation gasket" that will catch the water and divert it inside the frame and out the drain holes on the exterior. Speak to the installer as all upvc extruders will have their own made for the job condensation gaskets. Good luck David

 

[daleyd]

We had our shower extractor fan trunking that went from a ceiling fan out through the attic and to a roof tile vent droop and it filled up with condensation so there was no air flow.

The first signs were that we suddenly had loads of condensation on the upstairs bedroom windows, but we didn't know what the actual cause was. We only discovered the real cause some months later when water started dripping out of the fan inlet above the shower

When we emptied the water and re routed the trunking everything has been fine since, so it may be worth checking that any extraction you have is working correctly, even if not in the same room as the condensation.

 

[brightspark]

dehumidifier get rid of condensation at its source