Heavy window condensation in cold weather

[BMWGUYinCO]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah there is COLD or HEAT OR OFF then there is fan ON or AUTO or OFF. I default leave it is AUTO for fan and I flick it to HEAT in winter, COOL in summer.

So I have no circulation other than when the heater (furnace) kicks into gear. So from what you blokes are saying, I should set the fan to ON.

Will that circulate the internal air or pump from outside? Cos outside is fucking cold, minus 23 right now.

By setting your fan to ON - this will only run your furnace fan and will only recirculate internal air - it will NOT draw any air from outside. This should help!

[lakefront]

Originally Posted by BMWGUYinCO

Not quite. I installed a current sensing relay on the furnace live wire, not the fan live wire (those are two separate things).

This ensures the humidifier is only running when the furnace is on.

The fan operates 24/7/365 in stage 1 (low level speed), ensuring air circulation and more balanced temps across all 3 finished levels of our home.

When the furnace kicks on, then so does the humidifier and the fan then kicks into stage 2 (higher fan speed). When furnace shuts off, so does the humidifier, and the fan returns to stage 1 low level fan speed, but it is running continuously. So the fan, regardless of stage 1 or 2, runs independently of the humidifier.

2 kinds of current sensing relays, line voltage and low voltage. If you put the relay on the thermostat wire for heating, thats the right way to do it. Humidifier will only run when calling for heat.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by o_g

Do you have any window coverings? I find window coverings encourage condensation due to stagnant air. If you can open the window coverings a little bit to allow some circulation, then that will help.

No, just shutters which we open.

[Th3Walrus]

If you have condensation on your windows at 18% humidity, your windows are the problem.

I'm 1 hour west of you, and now that it's -10C instead of -20C outside, all my condensation is gone, and I have the humidity setpoint on my thermostat set at 32% now.

[CrownGlass]

I live just north of Barrie Ontario and had the same issue. Switch my thermostat to a Honeywell indoor air quality system. It controls humidifier/air exchanger/furnace all at once in winter. With indoor and outdoor temperature sensors, it detects rapid temperature changes, and adapts all setting to avoid condensation. Works perfectly and solved my condensation issues on a house with original windows at 20 years of age. No mold, no condensation and humidity is balanced nicely.

[Alfisti]

Do you have the exact model name handy?

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by CrownGlass

I live just north of Barrie Ontario and had the same issue. Switch my thermostat to a Honeywell indoor air quality system. It controls humidifier/air exchanger/furnace all at once in winter. With indoor and outdoor temperature sensors, it detects rapid temperature changes, and adapts all setting to avoid condensation. Works perfectly and solved my condensation issues on a house with original windows at 20 years of age. No mold, no condensation and humidity is balanced nicely.

I've always been curious with your type - you joined so long ago, but have so few posts (and it doesn't appear it is because you only post in OT where it doesn't count), so very little activity, and yet a random post like this draws you out to respond. It is just interesting to me - do you browse on a daily basis still but just don't post really, or was today just the day you browsed the forums after having not been on for a significant period of time? There are many others like you, but it just seems like the most random of topics draws them in and I admit I'm curious as to why.

Also, I know a little about Barrie / Orillia, I used to drive up there for a client when I was working for the Big 4. How much farther north of Barrie?

I really liked the area. It has boomed considerably though, house prices are nuts. And I was reading somewhere that Barrie was actually the third highest priced rentals in Canada I believe - after Vancouver and Toronto. Which is crazy to me.

[CrownGlass]

The system i have is the Honeywell Prestige IAQ Kit YTHX9421R5127. Works really well and makes all the components work together.

Not sure if i have a type or not - try to assist more than offer an opinion - personally been there, done that, had success, vs. personal conjecture.

Horseshoe Valley is the area i call home.

For BMW specific items, for my cars they are older, and all has been discussed before - not a lot to add. If i can help the people who have helped on the forum over time in another way, sounds good to me. I guess that is the randomness.

Yes real estate is silly - Barrie top three rental cost is crazy, but underlying driver is different from my observation. Proportionate lower value rentals vs higher (although the price creep makes them seem the same). College and hospital also cause this - supply/demand imbalance.

Lately also surprised by number of Canadian based posts.

[Alfisti]

Thanks, it is certainly a thorough system, will give it a look but i think i need a HVAC expert in here when the Rona ends.

I managed to turn the humidifier down a bit more and turned the fan on all day as stated above, it seems to have helped a lot, let's see what happens over the coming few days.

[Alfisti]

OK minus 20 today, so far so good. Next 48 hrs will be key, it will be minus 30 with wind chill and 20 inside the house, that should case problems so let's see. Fingers crossed.

[Alfisti]

Nope, woke to heavy, heavy condensation at all windows, ice on the worst of them dammit.

[Th3Walrus]

Yeah if you have ice inside, your windows are trash. Are they single pane?

[Alfisti]

Double pane but ice can't be good can it.

[o_g]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Double pane but ice can't be good can it.

It means that the gas between the two panes has leaked and the seal has failed. This allows the inner window pane to be much closer in temperature to the very cold outdoors, and there is a chance for the condensation to freeze into ice.

In 2019, we got these acrylic window inserts for some fixed / odd-shaped windows in our living room. They attach magnetically and create a third pane if you will. Replacement windows would have been very expensive for that style of window, and the acrylic insert (Magnetite) was a cost-effective alternative.

Humidity may still be high in your home. At this temperature, you need to reduce the humidity down to probably 20 to 25%.

[Frostynorth]

Window Insulation Film will help you get through winters.