OT: Heating Windows To Reduce Condensation During Winter

[Michael Kennedy]

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my heater
works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows.. Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the proper
solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window, but this place is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

Thanks for any suggestions!

- Mike

 

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:40:13 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
<mike@nospam.com> wrote:

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my heater
works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows.. Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the proper
solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window, but this place is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

Thanks for any suggestions!

- Mike

1. Check the humidity in the apartment, if it's above 50% get a
dehumidifier to control the humidity.

2. Put heavy drapes over the windows to insulate them. This wil keep
the maoisture inside the apartment from reaching the windows and also
keep the apartment warmer.

3. Cover the inside of the windows with clear plastic. These will
serve a storm windows and keep the moisture from reaching the window
panes. This will also keep the room warmer.

The dehumidifier will have a control to set the humidity level, so it
will only run when needed.

I can think of several ways to heat the glass, but can't recommend any
of them because of the associated costs and safety factors.

John

 

[Dave Platt]

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my heater
works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows.. Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the proper
solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window, but this place is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

A product that's sold in some cold areas here in the U.S. is a
weatherstripping film. You lay it over the windows, tape the edges,
and then hit it with hot air from a hair dryer. The film shrinks,
becomes taut, and by trapping air between the film and the glass you
get some of the insulating effect of double-pane glass. It'll keep
the moist indoor air away from the cold glass, and reduce condensation.

When warm weather arrives, just peel off the tape.

This would probably be a lot less expensive than trying to rig up
on-glass heaters.

If you can't find this exact product, you might be able to improvise
with available materials.

--
Dave Platt <dplatt@radagast.org> AE6EO
Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

 

[hr(bob) hofmann@att.net]

On Nov 21, 9:41 pm, n...@jecarter.us wrote:

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:40:13 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"

m...@nospam.com> wrote:
I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my heater
works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows.. Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the proper
solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window, but this place is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

Thanks for any suggestions!

- Mike

1. Check the humidity in the apartment, if it's above 50% get a
dehumidifier to control the humidity.

2. Put heavy drapes over the windows to insulate them.  This wil keep
the maoisture inside the apartment from reaching the windows and also
keep the apartment warmer.

3. Cover the inside of the windows with clear plastic.  These will
serve a storm windows and keep the moisture from reaching the window
panes.  This will also keep the room warmer.

The dehumidifier will have a control to set the humidity level, so it
will only run when needed.  

I can think of several ways to heat the glass, but can't recommend any
of them because of the associated costs and safety factors.  

John

If there is a fan blowing air around the room, it may help to reduce
the moisture build-up. I get a little condensation on the inside of
my double-glazed windows when I get up in the morning because the
window shades that we put down at night stop air circulation and there
is condensation on the inside bottom window. As soon as the shades
are up for a few minutes, the air circulation evaporates the
moisture. Using the stick-on plastic film to make a second window
thickness works well, but I don't know if it is available in Japan.
It is at almost all hardware stores here in the USA.

 

[Meat Plow]

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:40:13 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
<mike@nospam.com>wrote:

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my heater
works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows.. Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the proper
solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window, but this place is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

Thanks for any suggestions!

- Mike

There is a product used for adding a layer of heat-shrinkable film to
the inside of the window. That will stop condensation for the most
part. Keeping the humidity down also helps.

 

[Baron]

Dave Platt wrote:

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my
heater works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating
like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows..
Possible carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know
the proper solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window,
but this place is an apartment so I can't change the window.

A product that's sold in some cold areas here in the U.S. is a
weatherstripping film. You lay it over the windows, tape the edges,
and then hit it with hot air from a hair dryer. The film shrinks,
becomes taut, and by trapping air between the film and the glass you
get some of the insulating effect of double-pane glass. It'll keep
the moist indoor air away from the cold glass, and reduce
condensation.

When warm weather arrives, just peel off the tape.

This would probably be a lot less expensive than trying to rig up
on-glass heaters.

If you can't find this exact product, you might be able to improvise
with available materials.

At a pinch double sided tape & cling film will work.

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[Michael Kennedy]

"Meat Plow" <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote in message
news:3a8b5a.q6h.19.12@news.alt.net...

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:40:13 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
mike@nospam.com>wrote:

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my heater
works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows.. Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the proper
solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window, but this place
is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

Thanks for any suggestions!

- Mike



There is a product used for adding a layer of heat-shrinkable film to
the inside of the window. That will stop condensation for the most
part. Keeping the humidity down also helps.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I'm going to try the film over
the window first and see how that goes. Seems like it might work.

- Mike

 

[Meat Plow]

On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:13:37 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
<mike@nospam.com>wrote:

"Meat Plow" <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote in message
news:3a8b5a.q6h.19.12@news.alt.net...
On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:40:13 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
mike@nospam.com>wrote:

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my heater
works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows.. Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the proper
solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window, but this place
is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

Thanks for any suggestions!

- Mike



There is a product used for adding a layer of heat-shrinkable film to
the inside of the window. That will stop condensation for the most
part. Keeping the humidity down also helps.


Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I'm going to try the film over
the window first and see how that goes. Seems like it might work.

- Mike

Won't cost you much to find out. I used it for years before replacing
my windows with double pane, double hung variety. Try to keep your
humidity around 50%, that will help also.

 

[Michael Kennedy]

"Meat Plow" <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote in message
news:3ab2j7.9a2.19.15@news.alt.net...

On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:13:37 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
mike@nospam.com>wrote:


"Meat Plow" <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote in message
news:3a8b5a.q6h.19.12@news.alt.net...
On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:40:13 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
mike@nospam.com>wrote:

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my heater
works great... But My windows are single pane and condensating like
crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows..
Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the proper
solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window, but this place
is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

Thanks for any suggestions!

- Mike



There is a product used for adding a layer of heat-shrinkable film to
the inside of the window. That will stop condensation for the most
part. Keeping the humidity down also helps.


Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I'm going to try the film over
the window first and see how that goes. Seems like it might work.

- Mike


Won't cost you much to find out. I used it for years before replacing
my windows with double pane, double hung variety. Try to keep your
humidity around 50%, that will help also.

Being from Florda I'm not used to dealing with these types of problems..
Back home It rarely gets cold enough outside to cause the windows to
condensate, let alone drip like mine have been doing for the past week.
Think I'm going to have to use cling wrap and double sided tape like was
suggested above.. Anyhow its a bit warmer now so the problem is gone a
little while.

 

[Baron]

Michael Kennedy wrote:

"Meat Plow" <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote in message
news:3ab2j7.9a2.19.15@news.alt.net...
On Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:13:37 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
mike@nospam.com>wrote:


"Meat Plow" <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote in message
news:3a8b5a.q6h.19.12@news.alt.net...
On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:40:13 +0900, "Michael Kennedy"
mike@nospam.com>wrote:

I've got a bit of a problem. Its now winter here in Japan and my
heater works great... But My windows are single pane and
condensating like crazy.

Anyhow, I'm looking for some kind of heating for these windows..
Possible
carbon track heating like on the rear windows of cars. I know the
proper solution is to have a proper insulated doube pane window,
but this place is
an apartment so I can't change the window.

Thanks for any suggestions!

- Mike



There is a product used for adding a layer of heat-shrinkable film
to the inside of the window. That will stop condensation for the
most part. Keeping the humidity down also helps.


Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I'm going to try the film
over
the window first and see how that goes. Seems like it might work.

- Mike


Won't cost you much to find out. I used it for years before replacing
my windows with double pane, double hung variety. Try to keep your
humidity around 50%, that will help also.


Being from Florda I'm not used to dealing with these types of
problems.. Back home It rarely gets cold enough outside to cause the
windows to condensate, let alone drip like mine have been doing for
the past week. Think I'm going to have to use cling wrap and double
sided tape like was suggested above.. Anyhow its a bit warmer now so
the problem is gone a little while.

In that case, now is the time to do the job !

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

 

[Gus]

A product that's sold in some cold areas here in the U.S. is a
weatherstripping film.  You lay it over the windows, tape the edges,
and then hit it with hot air from a hair dryer.  The film shrinks,
becomes taut, and by trapping air between the film and the glass you
get some of the insulating effect of double-pane glass.  It'll keep
the moist indoor air away from the cold glass, and reduce condensation.

didn't they sell a similar product for lining the frames of model
wooden airplane wings? basically cover and use a heat source to draw
it taught. Only problem is i doubt the would sell it in a clear film,
usually it was coloured, at the hobby shops..