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d.sharkey · 06-02-2009, 05:57 PM

So my house was built in '97, original windows, 12 yrs old, have owned it for 3 yrs. Have developed bad frost on the interior corners of the double pane gas filled vinyl windows, wondering why? Seals gone, or insulation issues? Need to replace windows, or are there any other options? Vinyl siding on the exterior of home. Have used plastic sealer film past winters, on all, which does help, but temporarily solves it til next year. Heat is kept low year round, but we do get very cold winter months. Glass and walls surrounding windows is cold to the touch. Energy assement to be done in a couple weeks. Caradon, i think was the manufacturer. Opions please.

Ron6519 · 06-02-2009, 06:55 PM

Sounds like very cold air is getting in around the window. Probably an installation issue. You would remove the molding all around the window and add insulation into the cavities.
Ron

d.sharkey · 06-02-2009, 07:09 PM

Thanks, will have a look.

fenestrationman · 06-30-2009, 12:02 PM

Another common cause is that you may have excess humidity in your house. You may want to google condensation causes and cures. Newer homes are being built a lot tighter than homes that were built years ago which does not allow them to breath, hence trapping moisture within the home. Windows and doors are the coldest surfaces on your house. If you do have excess moisture present, once it comes in contact with the cold window surface, it will release this moisture in the form of condensation. On a double hung this usually collects at the lock rail and lift rail.

drtbk4ever · 06-30-2009, 12:25 PM

Alberta is very dry in the winter so most of the time we have to add humidity to the home via a humidifier.

Having the humidifier up too high can lead to condensation and frost on the windows, even with the best windows and installation. Replacing the windows is the most common reaction to such a problem. But unless you have deep pockets, confirm your humidifer settings, pull off the trim and check for insulation.

So the question I have is how high do you set your humidifier?

ccarlisle · 06-30-2009, 12:42 PM

Often, and depending on the construction of the window itself, the little grey insulating strips of fabric within the channels that the window slides on becomes worn away, letting cold air come into the space between panes. This cools the aluminum just enough so that any moisture lurking around in there freezes.

You can buy replacement strips if you can figure out the profile, and it usually just threads in along the channel. I don't bother doing that myself, I brought a set of windows to my glass guy and his shop replaced them for $5 ea I think it was.

It's common and an easy fix.

d.sharkey · 07-05-2009, 06:11 PM

Pulled the cheap humidifer out when bought the house 3 yrs. ago, was a very shoty job and leaked. Was just a box with a drip/float system off the cold water intake for the hot water tank, cut into the out air off the furnace, haven't had one since.

ccarlisle · 07-06-2009, 06:57 AM

We've upgraded our house in so many different ways, here and there, that our humidifier on the oil furnace just isn't used anymore. We're 3 in the house + 2 dogs, and the humidity level (during the winter when it's most relevant) isn't a problem so I pulled the entire unit 6 years ago. Three showers per day+laundry+dishwasher+cooking gives us enough moisture to be confortable...having said that a cheap $8 humidistat is used regularly to disgnose problems like your windows.

And what about your window? any thought on what you might do? Hard now because it's summer...