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Anonymous user

it is not a easy job to retrospectively fit trickle vents and it is unlikely to solve your condensation problem , assuming the condensation is not in-between the sealed unit (which would mean it is blown and need replacing). the condensation is caused because the out side temperature and the inside temperature differ and this causes the moisture in the air to form on your window as condensation the better rated sealed unit you have the less condensation you will get if you have a A rated sealed unit which would comprise of 2 pieces of ionised /k glass a warm edge spacer and argon gas you would not get condensation ,from the sound of it your windows have been in for some time and will probably have a c,d,e,or f rating the only way you are going to solve your problem is to change your sealed units and windows to A rated Kind Regards Tim Harris MD oak leaf windows ltd

Anonymous user

Dear aa40. In general terms, trickle ventilation will provide some assistance with the problem if the condensation is forming on the inside of the sealed double glazed unit and not in between the pains of glass. However, I would be more concerned with respect to the source of moisture assuming that the room it is not a bathroom, WC or Kitchen. There are many causes for raised moisture levels in the home and more often than not is due to poor or faulty ventilation and or extraction somewhere in the home or could signify a building envelope failure or leaking pipes, gutters ect. You should investigate any or all possible sources first and reduce or eliminate where ever possible. Without seeing your windows, I would say that it is highly unlikely that you could successfully retrospectively install trickle vents into your window ( due to drainage and damping) but you may be able to install new “night latches” instead that opens the window ever so slightly and can be locked to provide security. Failing that, installing airbricks is not a huge task but I would recommend that any penetrations through the exterior wall is cored ( round hole is easier to form) and a proper cavity sleeve is installed ( this may need to be fire rated). You may need to seek permission from the freehold owner to carry out this task as you have said your dwelling is a flat. Hope this is of some assistance. Please feel free to contact me if you need any further assistance. Kind regards, Kieran Gannon MCIOB.

Good afternoon from the glazing doctor team! So we deal with this issue almost on a daily basis. So I'm going to base my answer on a couple of assumptions, the first being that the condensation is forming on the interior facing piece of glass and not between the two panes and the second being that the damp on/in the walls is around the window reveals/internal cill. If the above is correct then retrofitting trickle vents will most likely solve the issue. Each person in a room whilst asleep produces around 2 litres of water per night, when this hits the cold surface of the glass and condenses into water droplets which in turn encourages mould spore growth around the windows. If this has been happening for a while the plaster around the windows will also start to absorb moisture creates damp patches. Fitting trickle vents will allow the damp air to exchange with fresh air from outside reducing the moisture content of the room. There are also other factors which will increase the prevalence of the issues such as house plants, washing/drying clothing or even fish tanks. To improve the situation further there is the option to upgrade you double glazed units. Soft coated, argon filled units with a warm edge spacer bar will help the issue by not being a cold surface for the condensate to form on. The high performance of the modern units forms a thermal barrier between the internal and external panes of glass meaning the internal pane is closer to the rooms air temperature which helps to prevent the moisture from condensing. In some cases only a combination of the two options will solve the issue but always start with the vents as this is a cheaper option and the most effective way to fix the issue. A little tip when fitting the vents, go into the top of an opening window/sash as this is much easier than trying too get it through the top of the frame. Hopes this helps