Double Glazing - why does it mist up?

[citybabe]

This time of the year my living room window condensates up on the outside glass pane.

I live in a the middle of a small row of terraced houses and looking at the other 4 mine is the only one to do this.
Other houses have had walls knocked out so they are more open plan where as I still like to have separate rooms

Does anyone know why this is happening?
The living room faces north so no sunlight or warmth this time of the year.
My radiators are very old to be fair and the house isn’t the warmest I’ve ever lived in so could it be because the house needs to be warmer inside?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Being the expert on all things practical, I assess that it's broke.

 

[screenman]

It has leaked, get a new unit around £50 should sort it from a small local company, easy to fit.

 

[subaqua]

It mists up on the inside of the outer pane?

Then as screenman says it’s leaking . New glazing time. Not frames . Just the sealed units

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

See, I told you. Broke.

 

[PK99]

This time of the year my living room window condensates up on the outside glass pane.

I live in a the middle of a small row of terraced houses and looking at the other 4 mine is the only one to do this.
Other houses have had walls knocked out so they are more open plan where as I still like to have separate rooms

Does anyone know why this is happening?
The living room faces north so no sunlight or warmth this time of the year.
My radiators are very old to be fair and the house isn’t the warmest I’ve ever lived in so could it be because the house needs to be warmer inside?

If it is on the OUTSIDE it is not a problem.
if it is on the inside of the glass sandwich it is.

https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/condensation-forming-outside-new-windows/

 

[Slick]

If its not inbetween the panes it could just be the type of heating you have.

 

[citybabe]

If it is on the OUTSIDE it is not a problem.
if it is on the inside of the glass sandwich it is.

https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/condensation-forming-outside-new-windows/

It’s condensation on the outside not between the glass panes. But I can’t see through the window because it’s so condensated

 

[Slick]

It’s condensation on the outside not between the glass panes. But I can’t see through the window because it’s so condensated

Windows working great then.

 

[citybabe]

If its not inbetween the panes it could just be the type of heating you have.

I have thought that to be honest as my plumber reckons some of the rads are probably older than me - over 40 years!!

 

[citybabe]

Windows working great then.

But I can’t see out of it!

 

[Slick]

I have thought that to be honest as my plumber reckons some of the rads are probably older than me - over 40 years!!

I have a calor gas fire in my conservatory which will put condensate on the inside window, radiators wouldn't do it unless there is absolutely no air flow. Do the windows gave vents?

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Have you tried switching them off then switching them on again?

 

[MikeG]

This time of the year my living room window condensates up on the outside glass pane.

I live in a the middle of a small row of terraced houses and looking at the other 4 mine is the only one to do this.
Other houses have had walls knocked out so they are more open plan where as I still like to have separate rooms

Does anyone know why this is happening?
The living room faces north so no sunlight or warmth this time of the year.
My radiators are very old to be fair and the house isn’t the warmest I’ve ever lived in so could it be because the house needs to be warmer inside?

If it is misting up on the outside of the glazing, and not between the panels, it is because it the outer surface of the glazing is colder than the surrounding air, and thus water vapour in the adjacent (external) air condenses on contact. This is an indication of an efficient insulator, in that there isn't sufficient warmth getting through the glazing to evaporate the condensation. I have noted this phenomena with our triple glazing for the last 25 years.

Adjust your heating levels to suit your comfort, not to clear your windows!

Edit: If you want to test this, you could take a hair drier to the inside of the unopened window, and apply some warmth for a few minutes.

 

[MikeG]

If its not inbetween the panes it could just be the type of heating you have.

It's not the type of heating (see above), nor is there any way that any type of heating could affect this. It isn't the type that counts, it is the amount of heat getting through to the outside of the outer pane of glazing.