Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

guy_guyerson t1_j6jwnkv wrote

Reply to comment by amoore031184 in How do I prevent condensation on the windows from causing water to accumulate on the windowsill? by teddythepooh99

I bet ventilating briefly with an open window is going to be cheaper than running a dehumidifier unless the heat is insanely expensive (baseboard electric at a high electric rate or something).

The Germans are super into this.

> "The correct way to ventilate a home is to employ the Stoßlüften, or shock ventilation method. You open your windows completely for three minutes if it's windy, five to 10 minutes if it's not," said Raymond Galvin, a researcher at the University of Aachen and Cambridge, who has written extensively about energy efficiency in Germany.

https://www.politico.eu/article/germanys-energy-efficiency-open-windows-ventilation/

In my experience, if you open a window in cold weather you can watch a hygrometer tick down very quickly in real time. Once the humidity is down, you're home free unless you create more without using an exhaust fan (bath or kitchen, for example) or the weather warms up with accompanying high humidity again. Then it's time for another quick shock.

240

neutralbystander11 t1_j6k077w wrote

Sometimes, you kinda need it though? My house does this when it's super cold and the interior humidity is only at like 30%RH. I'd rather have wet windows than it get any drier in here

98

oconnellc t1_j6k2k2h wrote

> you kinda need it though? My house does this when it's super cold and the interior humid

Run a small fan on the lowest setting. Just the tiniest bit of air moving will do wonders for getting rid of this.

67

MagicSPA t1_j6jyhij wrote

I moved into my own flat a few years ago and discovered the principle of Stoßlüften completely independently! When it's windy, I absolutely open the windows and doors for a few minutes, cold or not, just to change the air.

59

teuchuno t1_j6k9x4s wrote

Aye, every morning I go round, open all the curtains and the windows, then close the windows half an hour or so later - no problems. If it's really cold I just mop the condensation off with a cloth (but still open the windows).

Admittedly this is North Wales so not as cold as Chicago, but our houses in the UK are so old and shite that it's still necessary.

32