[Elvis Presley (OP)]

Every morning, at this time of year, my windows are dripping with water. I think this must be because the outside of the glass is so cold, and the inside is warmer, hence the condensation. This water runs down the windows and makes everything in the vicinity wet. Having  a bath or shower just adds further steamy windows.

Is there a solution to this?

And, in science terms, why are the windows not wet in the colder weeks of winter? The temperature difference between in and out is greater, so there should be more condensation, shouldn't there? Not so: if it's snowing outside, the windows are completely dry. Why?

[Bored chemist]

Double glazing?

[Don_1]

I used to find this happening, but since Mrs 'er indoors put paid to the old rumpy pumpy, it doesn't seem to happen any more.

So the cure seems to be celibacy!


What am I crying for???

[rosy]

The answer is...
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Secondary-Glazing-Film/invt/210014
... or local equivalent.

Double glazing works better, and it doesn't prevent you opening the windows, but in the absence of double glazing (or whilst you/your landlord is saving up for it), this stuff is really surprisingly effective. We used it when we first moved into our current house and before we persuaded the landlady that double glazing was an excellent investment in the property (which had condensation so bad that not only had the window frames rotted but the plaster beneath the windows was sort-of squishy.. not to mention the time a housemate left his extension cable under the window and the condensation fell on it, taking out the ring main - he was lucky, his computer wasn't fried).

On the science front.. the air in your house is warm and can hold quite a lot of moisture, the air outside is cold, and doesn't. When the air by your windows is cooled down by meeting the cold glass, the amount of moisture it can hold is less than it is already holding, that excess moisture has to go somewhere, so it condenses on the inside of the windows. The warmer the house, and the colder the outdoors, the more water can evaporate from (say) hanging up your clothes, and the more water can condense onto the windows.

I can't explain your observation about snowy weather, as far as I remember from living in a single-glazed house my experience was that when it snowed the windows steamed up just as they did when it was equivalently cold but not snowing (are you sure you're comparing like with like in terms of outdoors temperature? Sometimes when it snows it's not as cold as you'd think compared to clear, frosty weather..)

Any ideas, anyone?

[Bored chemist]

In very cold weather the air outside has very little water in it because it's too cold to hold much. When it comes in through the ventilation it gets warmed up but it still hasn't much water in it. Even when things like cooking and washing add more water there's still not enough for it to condense out on the windows

[wolfekeeper]

If it's snowing outside the humidity will be lower- all the moisture in air is lying outside as snow. Dry air won't condense on the (relatively) warm windows, it has to reach the dew point, which depends on humidity.

[maffsolo]

Warm air in the house, sources of water evaporated surrounds the inside portion of the house washing dishes washing clothes run water for a bath boiling water for your favorite brew, etc...
 
Thermal pain windows, a frame with a double pane window sandwich, purges with argon gas and air tight seal, isolated thermal transfer and water condensation between the window provided a proper purge of the gas displaces all normal atmosphereic gasses and the moisture from between this sealed sandwich.

Something similar to a thermos bottle only a small different in isolating medium.

It reminds me of Christmas when frost is on the windows

[peppercorn]

"Is there a solution to steamy windows?"

Buy a dehumidifier?

[maffsolo]

"Is there a solution to steamy windows?"

Buy a dehumidifier?

Hang a strainer full of calcium carbonate over your hanging plants
Dry the air at the same time water the indoor plants

Below:
Bored Chemist is right

[Bored chemist]

I'm not sure which would be worse advice.
Calcium carbonate which will just sit there, or calcium chloride which will strip water from the air, but poison the plants.

[maffsolo]

Aha boy I have been poisoning snails and now plants,
 retrack my advice on the plant watering and Calcium Carbonate.
Hold it, that leaves me with a blank post
Put the calcium chloride bag over the polished finish, calcium carbonate counter,  sink
Thanks Bored Chemist

[FranSmitherman]

I heard you can buy triple-glazed windows made in Belgium that generate electricity via an element inside the glazing.  How can I find out more?