General Chat

7 weeks ago we got new windows in, yesterday morning when I opened the curtain the outside of the window was completely steamed up could hardly see out the window so bad took a photo of it, now have had the inside steamed up especially when cooking but never the outside and it was the only window to do so , heating wasn't on and it wasn't that cold outside so phoned the firm that installed them to ask advice and got a very curt reply "if it's the outside/condensation there's nothing we can do about it" well ben married over 50 yrs and had many houses but never had this happen so do we put up with it ? Is it a fault with the glass (if that's possible) ? or do we just grin and bear it? ... wish I had my old window back :-(

Is it windows 7 or Windows 8?

Seriously though, if it is not on the inside of the unit between the two panes of glass then I would seriously doubt that it is anything to do with the window.

Windows steam up because of a difference in temperature on either side of the glass.

They only really steam up on the inside of the unit if there is a problem with the seal generally speaking.

I know Errol but steaming up on the outside and the temp. not much different between inside and out? as I said have never had the outside do that before it cleared itself within about an hour but thinking of winter are we going to have it all the time ....paid a lot of money for this ... the old one we changed because it was a very old aluminium one and had a wooden sill which had seen better days oh dear I'm most annoyed :-|

If you are in the UK I suggest you contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service and ask them about your options.

OFTG Thanks.. Have rung them and they are supposed to be getting back to me today but just wanted to know if anyone else had this problem

We get it on the outside of our conservatory windows.

Have a look at this for an explanation from glass makers Pilkington:

http://tinyurl.com/avthocz

Thanks Adeline that answers that then will just have to put up with it at least I now know that the glass/window is not faulty. :-D

The same thing happened at my house yesterday, but only on the glass of my back door, and front downstairs windows. I Googled the problem, and one of the top answers was what Adeline posted. Rest assured. Your new windows should be fine. Yesterday was the only time it's happened to our windows in all the years we've had them.

I was told that condensation on the outside meant the double glazing was doing its job :-S :-S
It soon clears lol - better out than in as the saying goes Nolls ;-)

Its very much like a car first thing in the morning now the night temps are dropping, they are wet through on the outside,,,but soon clears as the light increases,,,,,,its this new type glazing....

Very True Lyndi just don't like looking out of the window and not being able to see anything :-D

Your right Kay just wished they had told us as it might not have been a shock still can't understand it as it is so warm at the moment but at least I understand what's happened when I called the shop this morning she was quite curt and I got no explanation and shh ....I was a wee bit curt myself I think opps ;-)

Thanks Amokavid Now realise nothing we can do about it..... just feels wrong when they are new windows oh well that's life :-D thanks everyone

If it was cold during the night, and a mist comes up I would think that it is possible for the outside glass to mist up,

Bob

Cold surfaces, plus humidity equal fogging up

some of my windows steam up in the early morning mist mainly the back windows
but clear as the day go's on

I know now it happens.....BUT I don't like my windows steaming up especially when the old ones didn't do it :-P

hi being an old lag from my window fitting days ,i can say that there is nothing to worry about as long as it is the outside of the window that is steamed up ,and not inside the double glazed unit iteslf.
The new glazing units use the new glass system ,which stops heat from the building getting outside ,as well as stopping the gold getting in from the outside .
It is the coating on the inside of the outside glass panel that causes the misting up ,nowt to worry about ,and ,incidently ,i was told this by the firm that is going to do my windows at the end of this month,nothing you can do ,other than fit window screen wipers ,lol.Fred. :-)

Our front porch is double glazed sliding doors .they will mist up on the outside , its like the cars parked outside get the mist over them when its been warm in the day but cold over night.
It used to happen with the old porch and has happened too recently with the new one installed a couple of months

It's normal and it soon clears

Condensation occurs on the outside because the temperature is higher than that on the inside of the glass. When the warm air from outside hits the cold glass of the window, it cools down and condenses to form condensation.

The problem has also been blamed on the use of Pilkington's 'k' glass, currently used in many replacement units. This is supposed to reflect heat back into the room but in some installations can cause condensation problems too.

Lack of proper ventilation is also a major cause of condensation problems. As a nation we seem to be obsessed with trying stop draughts at all costs which is often causes more problems than it solves. Many new window units have small ventilation apertures at the top. Ensure these are always kept open, not closed.