Condensation on House windows, Air to Air heat exchangers.

[kman]

This is about condensation on the inner pane of a double pane window, or dew point

Who has installed Heat recovery exchangers and similar to combat this issue?

From this date and on, I'll have lots of condensation in the mornings, later on ice and mold will actually form if allowed to happen.

For years I've covered the windows with the 3m window kits, helps alot by keeping the vapor away from the glass with the big temp change that occurs in Wisconsin winters.

How many others in this climate have this problem, How did you deal with it?

[yarcraft91]

This season, so far, it has been more humid outside than inside. 74 degrees today, 73% humidity. As outdoor temps drop and heating season goes on, the house dries out, but not so far this season. I just wait for colder weather, eventually have to turn on a humidifier.

[AllenW]

I'm no longer in the field, but best I remember these numbers are pretty close to what you should see.

Also You need an hygrometer to tell what levels you have.

"" If outside temperature is 20 to 40 degrees, humidity indoors should not be more than 40 percent.

• If outside temperature is 10 to 20 degrees, humidity indoors should not be more than 35 percent.

• If outside temperature is 0 to 10 degrees, humidity indoors should not be more than 30 percent.

• If outside temperature is 10-below to 0, humidity indoors should not be more than 25 percent.

• If outside temperature is 20-below to 10-below, humidity indoors should not be more than 20 percent.

• If outdoor temperature is lower than 20-below, inside humidity should not be more than 15 percent.""

Sometimes an dehumidifier will work, sometimes more is needed.

Al

[Bobby Winds]

Plain and simple, you have a humidity problem in the house.....

We had the same problem but it's easy to rectify and there are several ways to do it.

Get a de-humidifier for the house and try to get it below 50%

Put in a air tight wood stove to dry out the house in the heating season (we did this and problem gone)

Or turn on a fan to move around the air so it's doesn't condensate on the windows. Either a ceiling fan or a portable will do the same thing. This is the easiest to test the theory of too much humidity in the room / house.

[lakedog]

Some questions:

1.) Does your furnace have a humidifier and do you use it?
2.) Do you run a temperature set back during winter months?
3.) Do you leave curtains drawn at night or have other obstructions that might impeded airflow around your windows?
4.) Do you monitor your relative humidity indoors?
5.) How old are your windows?

My gut feel is that you don't need a heat exchanger to combat your problem and could probably address the issue by other means. Frankly, if they're fogging this time of year I would take a hard look at the way they're installed. That shouldn't happen under moderate temperatures.

[kman]

Originally Posted by lakedog

Some questions:

1.) Does your furnace have a humidifier and do you use it?
2.) Do you run a temperature set back during winter months?
3.) Do you leave curtains drawn at night or have other obstructions that might impeded airflow around your windows?
4.) Do you monitor your relative humidity indoors?
5.) How old are your windows?

My gut feel is that you don't need a heat exchanger to combat your problem and could probably address the issue by other means. Frankly, if they're fogging this time of year I would take a hard look at the way they're installed. That shouldn't happen under moderate temperatures.

1.) no
2.) 68/62 at night
3.) curtains drawn
4.) no
5.) 20 years

its not the windows, last week we had a few good frosts, the warm moist air is naturally drawn to glass, then condenses when it cools, leaving condensation on the inside of the inner pane.

Windows are double pane Weather shield with no interior fogging.

As said earlier this is a dew point issue.

This is a long shot question,..,..but do you have a fireplace and store wood in your cellar or a room attached to the house?

[Bobby Winds]

Yes, the excessive interior dew point.

[kman]

Originally Posted by hollis wuzamember

This is a long shot question,..,..but do you have a fireplace and store wood in your cellar or a room attached to the house?

No.

[Bobby Winds]

Originally Posted by hollis wuzamember

This is a long shot question,..,..but do you have a fireplace and store wood in your cellar or a room attached to the house?

How / what would this do with anything ?