Exterior shutters

[Ken70]

Have just finished making an exterior polystyrene shutter 50mm.
It is a snug fit into the outside reveal over double glazed window, and will be put up and taken down each day.
Taped all round and rainproofed and sealed off with bubblewrap.
The result is that there is now no condensation on the inside of the window, tho humidity is still reading 70 high.
Got the idea from Thermal shutters and Shades byWA Shurcliff.
Early days. Before proceeding to do the rest of the easy to reachwindows, do you think this will work.

 

[ColJack]

what you need is a bleed vent in your windows..

I take it that you have forced air heating as opposed to radiators?

 

[Ken70]

I have bleed vents in the windows, but unsure as whether they are blocked or not..
And radiators, not forced air. Hope to save on the heating too , and take weekly readings .
Total cost to do 4 windows facing the worst weather is £20.
Gain so far is the total lack of condensation on the inside of the windows.

 

[ColJack]

by "on the inside of the windows", do you mean inside the actual double glazed unit, or on the room side of the window?

if it's the former, then your seals have gone and you need new glazing units.. ( the frames may be ok.. but with the BOGOF offers adn such it might be as cheap to get all new.. )

if it's the latter, then you need more ventilation through your house..

unless you have 10 people living there and the shower or bath is going all day along with a pot of water boiling on the stove all day, then you have problems...

 

[Ken70]

There is NO condensation on the inside of the double glazed windows, due to the cold from outside being excluded or limited by the exterior polystyrene slab.
However the hygrometer is still reading 70 high so the condensation is still there , not however on the windows.
Probably need to get a de-humidifier.
Some gain in that the heat loss (thru the windows) is LESS, but seems to have shifted the condensation problem to somewhere less obvious.

 

[ColJack]

I meant before you put the polystyrene over them..

your house sounds too air tight then..

youy need better ventilation as all that breathing in and out that you are doing is causing problems..

you might also have damp problems in the walls..

try this wiki page for info on condensation.. //www.diynot.com/wiki/building:condensation-in-houses

 

[Ken70]

Thank you Jack for the replies...yes...house is fairly airtight, have started ventilating when the heatg is not on and no residual heat lost.
Mid-day I found is best, and started hanging clothes in the garage when not fully dry from the line. Gotta get organised on that.
Only bathropom and kitchen affected...front room and main bedroom face south and any condensation clears fairly quickly. Dining room now useable. DG is 20 year old so maybe need new seals. Good link that.Thanks.
Now looking to read a reductiion in gas consumption. Early days. Am getting a de-humidifier from Focus Sale. £70 or maybe Screwfix.

 

[ColJack]

i'm guessing then that since it's the bathroom and kitchen that you don't have extract fans in the bathroom or cooker hood / extract in the kitchen..

 

[Ken70]

Yes Jack....just got to fit 'em. Merry Xmas.