How to fix Condensation or Ice Build up on Windows!

This video explains How to fix Condensation or Ice Build up on Windows!
This video explain why condensation happens? what rises your Humidity? what are the solution?
This video can answer all your questions regarding Condensation Issue.
NOTE-
VENTILATION AND AIR CIRCULATION HELPS TO REDUCE CONDENSATION AND ICE BUILD UP, AS WHEN AIR IS IN MOTION, CHANCE OF MOISTURE FROM AIR ATTACHING TO COLD SURFACE IS LOW.
WARNING-
Using Hair Dryer may crack the window if performed wrong.
Use Hair Dryer with low heat and not holding the dryer for too long at one spot, it works fine. Also, using towel to soak away the water right away. This procedure requires time and patience
0:00 - Intro
0:19 - Where does water come from?
0:55 - What rises humidity in Home?
1:37 - Solutions-Intro
2:01 - Solution 1
6:48 - Solution 2
8:34 - Bonus Tip
Thanks for watching the Video.
If you have any question, please write a comment and I will be more than happy to answer.
Please Like and Subscribe. Thanks
#HomeMaintenance #Condensation #Winter #Humidity

[@vickiedwards2571]

Temperatures got to -50F here in Montana and for the first time I had ice buildup around my windows. I thought my windows had failed until I saw this video. Thank you so much for the information and peace of mind!

[@How2]

You're welcome. Glad this video helped.

[@cutekaola8669]

Thank you so much for your video. Temperature these few days reaches -30C and there is a large buildup of ice on my basement window. I set the humidity to 25% and still not enough to prevent ice formation. I didn't even know there is a HRV switch until I watch your video. Now I have turned on the HRV and hopefully solve the condensation problem. I also plan to put a 250W mini space heater beside the window during cold nights.🙏🙏🙏

[@How2]

Thanks for your comment and happy to hear that you learned something new from this. Also, i want to add information to your issue, as there is already build-up, your HRV will not be counting that ice in the humidity, so you may see lower number. As weather is warming up next week, ice build up will be melting, as it melts try to wipe the water away before it get evaporated back in the air and add to your humidity. Also, if Humidity is maintained in next week when weather is warm, in next cold snap, you will not need to use heater on windows, just keep 20 minutes Ventilation and 40 minutes continuous circulation. Hope this information helps even more. Happy Holidays!

[@cutekaola8669]

@@How2 Thank you again. My house is facing east and most of the ice on the window would melt before noon and builds up again in the evening. I put a towel beside each window and use a Karcher handheld vacuum to suck up excess water from the windows (it really SUCKS 😆). I will keep the HRV running for 24 hours and see how it goes. Merry Christmas to you!🎄🎆🎊🎉🎁✨☃

[@lobdsk]

DO NOT USE A HAIRDRYER on your ice cold window. It will crack

[@How2]

Thanks for the warning. Yes, It may crack only if done without caution. But performed with low heat and not holding the dryer for too long at one spot, it works fine. Also, using towel to soak away the water right away. This procedure requires time and patience. But Thanks to your comment, i will add this as a warning in the description.

[@terrypaulson5945]

Exactly, they are called "pressure cracks" What happens is that by using a hair dryer your are creating two extreme surfaces temperatures on the glass. When these two temperatures create a deferential of 20 to 21 degrees between the two, the stress factor comes into play at the weakest point which is the corners. The exertion will transfer up side and usually you will see a pressure crack 6 to 7 inches up the side. I have 31 years experience is various conditions and circumstances from shadow lines, long ways of sun (winter time), blinds, stacked items on adjoining balconies screening part of the glass surfaces. The worst stress conditions come into play when your residence faces south east and any obstruction caused by upper deck cast a long ray (winter time) shadow on the lower level glass and this deferential can be a significant 20-25 degrees. Bang goes the glass. This is predominate in the Prairie regions. Experienced 100s of these conditions. Hope this helps anyone wanting to understand the conditions they face.

[@sharris3624]

Ok, I'm back lol. The a/c girl you have been helping. Thanks to your channel. I subscribed!!! I am having this problem too, BAD in my apartment! Every window in my house has condensation. Our apartments come with screen doors and even my screen door glass top and bottom has condensation (I can't understand why, because my door is always closed and my house is never really hot too me). I look at my neighbors windows and doors in my building and I don't see condensation on their windows or screen door just mine. It's so bad, my window seal started to mold. I didn't realize it until maintenance discovered it painting the windows with weather paint whatever that is. I just moved here in September and I don't like these issues. I was told it's my responsibility to keep the windows dry to keep the mold away. I mean it's so bad, I can write my name in the condensation. I was also told by rent manager that my apartment and a only a few more in the complex does this so I guess I'm stuck. She mentioned because we are up on a mountain etc etc, but I can't understand why my next door neighbor or my upstairs neighbor or anyone else right near me apartment is not doing it... why just mine??

[@terrypaulson5945]

The answer is simple (31 years in the window business) Your residence is choaking off air circulation. You have incubated your residence creating high humidity and still air. Your windows are attaching themselves to this humidity and drawing down the temperature and causing the air to reach dew point and unload precipitation (Water). As it collects on the glass it now is further reduced in temperature and grabs more moisture in the air. The glass is telling you, you have a live style that manufactures Humidity. Open your freezer door on your fridge and it looks like you would totally ice up in one hour. NOW, put your furnace fan on manual and move air. Crack a window and circulate air. Buy or install a fan. TELL WHOEVER THAT THE MONTAIN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. Lower your house temperature to reduce capturing moisture. Good luck remember change your life style. The glass is begging you!!!!!!

[@gerir5570]

Good info if you have the items/fixtures you mentioned. I have a wood stove and pellet stove which is being repaired, can afford to currently replace broken sealed windows, don't think a blow dryer would help me with the -20C at times. Good luck to those who have the convenience of of a thermostat and furnace.

[@sharris3624]

I also have a sump pump in my apartment ONLY in the complex because water was getting into the floor and walls and the only way they could fix it was to put a sump pump (behind a built in wall) in my master bedroom. What do you think about that? They said it's been here since 2017 and they inspect it once a year. It's in a corner with a built in wall around it. I really feel I bad a bad unit. Which is probably why it was the only one available and previous tenants lived her for only 2 years.

[@How2]

Hello again, After reading the details you mentioned, it looks like you have high humidity in your apartment. for this first I will recommend you get a small humidity reader, it's available at all hardware stores and doesn't cost much. Compare this Relative Humidity reading with the chart in my video. If the numbers are way higher than recommended, then I will advise you to ventilation your apartment using the ventilation system you have. if that doesn't help, then I would recommend using a de-humidifier, this removes moisture from the space as per set numbers. In terms of Sump-pump in the apartment bedroom! I am hearing about this for the first time. We usually use Sump-pump in the basement to remove groundwater by the foundation via weeping tile. again, if this is something that bothers you, I would ask you to either request the Apartment Manager to get everything inspected or you can hire private property inspector as well. Hope all your issues be resolved soon

[@CPSC2401]

Hello and thank you for the informative video. I have a couple of questions regarding selecting the best indoor RH. #1 - My ventilation control panel (identical to the one in this video) does not allow me to set RH lower than 30. How did you manage to set yours to 25? #2 - I have read that the ideal RH for a home is 45 to 60 however some sources mention that as the temperature drops, so should the indoor RH. For example if outdoor temperature is -35 then RH should be set to 15 or less. However, it sounds counter intuitive if outside air is super dry and I also reduce humidity indoors (to avoid condensation on windows and walls). Can you explain how to choose the correct RH based on outside temperature, as well as inside temperature. Thank you.

[@How2]

Thanks for your comment. 1. This concern is brought to me for the first time an di am not sure why! but i can look into it ad update you if i find anything. I know RH Max 60, can be increased to 99 due to some error but not sure how its set at 30 not 25 2. RH for home in Winter more than 30 to 35% can cause issues like condensation which leads to Mold, droplets like rain on wall leaving stains. I am not sure what sources says 45-60 Rh but they are wrong. In summers Humidity goes higher than 35% as it rains and we open windows to ventilate, which raises the Relative humidity but that is okay as its summer and warm weather. Humidity here we talk about is Relative Humidity (RH) which is a measure of how much water vapor is in a water-air mixture compared to the maximum amount possible at given certain temperature.. So lets say for example(not calculated scientifically), If 1 square meter of Air at 25 Celsius can carry 5 liters of moisture If Air at 25C has 5 liters of moisture it will have RH of 100% But if its has 2.5 Liters it had 50% RH. Same 1 square meter of Air at 0 Celsius will be only able to carry 2 Liters, and further cooled to -25 C will be able to Carry 1 liter. So if Air and moisture is kept same, when Air goes from 25 C to -25 C, same 4 liters of moisture is excess and will be available to turn into condensation or water droplets on walls and may cause Mold or stains. Now to answer your question- the reason to reduce moisture is so that there is less moisture available in the house, then chances of Condensation are lower. Also, keep Air in motion so Air doesn't get stable, otherwise the moisture available in air will freeze to Windows as Windows are at very lower temperature as compared to the other sections of the house. Hope this explains your question. Sorry for long explanation. Let me know if you still have any doubt.

[@CPSC2401]

@@How2 Hi and thank you for your reply! Yes, for some reason my humidifier control panel does not allow an automatic setting below 30% so this makes it hard for me to automate the indoor RH level when temperatures outside drop below -20. I want to calculate the recommended RH level, using numbers for inside temperature and outside temperature and humidity. Is there such a formula? In one of your other videos you provided a table that shows recommended RH level inside, based on an inside temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. If I remember correctly, I think the table showed that when temperatures are below -20 Celsius then inside RH should be 15%. I understand this low RH percentage will help prevent condensation but it will be so uncomfortable for the people in the house, don’t you think?

[@How2]

​@@CPSC2401 1. You can reduce Humidity from Humidifier in Mechanical Room and Run continuous ventilation, which lower Humidity. But it also depends on number of occupants in the house, for example 2 person breath-out about 60 liters of moisture per week , then moisture from cooking and shower can be added. so 2 adults can be counted as 5% humidity. So you have to play around with numbers to figure out what's best for your house. 2. Yes, there is Table in video kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHLWf2uHd8qYqLM at 4:47. I am not sure if there is any calculator but there are similar charts to one i have attached available online when you search Outdoor Temperature/Indoor RH. In regards to uncomfortable to live in the house, I haven't heard many people complaining about low humidity in house bothering them but its overall low humidity in winters outside and inside. For which we will need to use moisturizers and other methods.

[@xpminister]

how do i know if have the right humidity level in my home ? or how do i measure it ?

[@How2]

Hello, Please watch link- kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHLWf2uHd8qYqLM at 4:47 for explanation on Humidity Thanks

[@mhq1982]

I feel cold air draft around window when i move my hand , is that normal ? Also , the condensation is at high level , i have to use towel every morning to wipe water away . Do u think i need to change windows ?

[@How2]

Hello, 1. What windows do you have? Old Steel frame? Double pane? Triple pane? 2. Is there a gap between window and casing? If so then please use White Dapp Sealant to seal the gap. 3. If the draft is on cold dayz try to find where is it coming from? Also you can reduce this a bit depending on which windows they are by running HRV / Ventilation system to ON all the time or also you can use FAN ON on your thermostat. Please let me know about my questions and i will be able to help further

[@umeshkumar7189]

I have 2019 built home and I hrv ventilation system. I have 60 humidity is very high, I tried to set every way like videos but it’s not dropping down. What should I do. Second thing it was okay in last winter. I put new centralised unit this year, do you think it will effect it or should I do some kind of setting in ac too

[@How2]

Hello, High humidity simply means higher moisture inside the house. It can added through Humidifier system in Mechanical room, shower, cooking etc. Please follow below steps- 1. Check Humidifier and Humidistat in basement and reduce the RH number to 15. 2. Run continuous Ventilation on HRV control. 3. If condensation and ice is already formed on windows, it will either melt when weather gets warmer Oar you can melt it with Hair Dryer. When it melts, it better to use paper towels or cloth to remove it. 4. Once, humidity falls, keep HRN settings as 20 minutes ventilation and 40 minutes inner circulation. Hope this helps to solve your problem.

[@umeshkumar7189]

Thanks sir, I did all it but humility is still at 56 . I did my hrv setup as you said. I cleaned it already. Any other option I can do

[@How2]

Humidity will be high and it takes time to remove. Quickest way to remove it is by using "Dehumidifier". This is unit that can be placed in room or small area, and it removes moisture from the air in 24 to 48 hours depending on the size. But use this only if actually needed. Home Depot rental carry them. Please make sure not to go below 15-20% RH inside the house.

[@lobdsk]

If you have a true air conditioner for the entire house and not one of those units you buy at Walmart then you should have a air dryer as part of it. It needs to be emptied of water. You tube it or a plumber worth his water should be able to put you in the right direction.

[@calebjardine7]

don't heat your window up too much with a heating device. I managed to crack my window with the chromatic heater I had(note this was before I saw this video )

[@How2]

Hello, Yes, any direct heat can damage the window. It's because Glass is being constantly heated from inside while it experiences extreme cold on the outside. Best is to use a hair dryer as you can move it around or use a heater with a fan and it keeps the air flow going, but again not to be kept too close for long time. Also, Thanks for clearing that your window was damaged before watching this video. Hope this video hepped you to solve from with other methods.

[@lobdsk]

It sounds like you had fun cracking your window with a hair dryer.

[@1kreature]

Relative humidity below 30% has adverse health effects. It is NOT recommended. If you have condensation/icing problems and you are already at low enough humidity your windows are simply not up to the task or they have been poorly installed.

[@How2]

Hi, Yes, you are correct. But at the same time if humidity is too high it promotes mold growth which have adverse effects on health. Video explains condensation that already happened which clearly shows that moisture is in excess as frozen moisture is already not available in the interior air for improving any health. However, I understand what you are trying to say. Any excess humidity available in the interior air when outside temperature drops and air gets stable, will freeze to the windows and any colder spots. Yes, Windows can be old or poorly installed. But when this happens on new built house with triple pane window and energy efficient house, it is humidity and ventilation that need to be looked at.

[@1kreature]

@@How2 If you have tripple-pane windows with "hot edge spacers" (not cheap alu spacers inside) then the differential temperature they can deliver is so high even at the edges to almost always avoid condensation, let alone never freezing. Even with 80+% humidity such windows can not cause ice to form unless you live in Siberia. Sliding windows though, are a massive problem in such cases as the seal will be very inferior to a swing-closed window and is often the culprit. One important note though: Relative humidity sensors are notoriously imprecise. I've seen +/- 15% on even expensive consumer units. I suggest getting multiple different brands and checking and also having professionals check the calibration of the HVAC in the house to make sure it is reading correctly.

[@Afritunez]

I used a hair dryer and now the main window has a large crack on the left corner and if i touch it the crack expands!! omg my landlord is going to swallow my deposit account 😭😭

[@How2]

Hi, Sorry to hear about glass cracking. It might have happened if very hot mode is used directly on the glass. Best way is to use warm air , little on the side and not to keep it stable on glass. Like few seconds of warm air and move it and repeat. You can tell your Landlord that there is crack in glass due to pressure change. It is common to have pressure crack in window glass when weather outside is really low and inside is in 20s. Again, apologize for this.

[@thewordisahammer6634]

Another technique is to spray salt water on the panes before or after the ice forms.

[@How2]

Idea seems interesting. For sure I will look into this and give it a try. Thanks for the tip.