HI,
I have a 15 year old house. I've done all the home improvements including new double glazing (3 years ago) and 12 inches of loft insulation. Only thing left now is cavity insulation.
Now I was plagued by black mould and condensation in all of the upstairs windows when I had the old windows. These were hardwood frames with sealed double glazing units inserted like a single pane of glass.
There are three windows in total upstairs, front bedroom, back bedroom and landing.
I had specified trickle vents and grade A energy rating glass for the new double glazing due to the condensation problems I had.
I am still plagued by condensation when the outside is cold even with the new double glazing.
Its so bad that there are pools of water on the window shelves. I of course ended up with black mould again on the emulsioned plasterboard where it meets the wooden window shelf.
I've scraped off the mould and painted benzalkonium chloride on in an effort to kill the mould and prevent regrowth.
Last year I invested in a dehumidifer thinking that it was the moisture from sleeping peoples breath that was the cause as the downstairs windows did not suffer from condensation
Now that the outside is colder, I had it running all the time to dry out the air and it did reduce the condensation significantly.
But the other half is complaining she is waking up with a headache due to dehydration and is gasping for water all day whilst at work.
I've changed the humidistat to 30% humidity on the dehumidifier. This is on the landing . The other half's headaches have improved but the condensation has come back somewhat, with a thin smearing at the bootom of the window panes
I am keen to avoid a return of the black mould as I have asthma. I have noticed that the plasterboard in the two corners where wood window shelf meets the UPVC window feels cold to the touch. Although there is no mould (yet) the benzalkonium chloride I painted on seems to have become tacky.
How can I banish this condensation once and for all?
Stephen.