Iced up windows on inside

[Janette]

We have a heavy frost build up at the bottom and corners of our windows. As we have a wood stove we need some humidity, though. What can we do to prevent the buildup? I should add we are in the Canadian prairies and have had some biting cold temps this winter.

[The Paw]

Clear plastic film, taped air-tight at edges with duct tape or tuck tape.

You will have to melt the ice with a hair dryer first though, otherwise you will get vapour trapped between the plastic and window.

[ericjeeper]

If you have condensation on the inside after the new windows, you have excess humidity in the house.

[Janette]

Eric, as much as we would like to replace windows, at this time we can't. We will keep those in mind, though. So we are left with the other suggestion of putting clear plastic over the windows. Now, my DH remembers this from his youth. He says it was difficult to see outside. It wasn't very clear. Do they make the plastic better now, 40-45 years later? He figures otherwise we may as well leave them as they are. This HAS been a very cold winter on the prairies. We will research this some more and figure out what to do for next winter. But sitting with a blow dryer everyday isn't practical.

Thanks, Guys!

[tamsam]

They do make a plastic for windows that is so clear you won't know it is there. Look for it in kits that has double sided tape to put it on. Once you get it on take a hair drier or elect heater and heat it a little and it shrinks and takes the wrinkles out. If you have a lot of windows and can find it in rolls and the tape seperate it is a lot cheaper. Also it is easy to take off in spring and the tape pulls off fairly easy too. Makes a big difference in heat. Oh and it goes inside. Good luck. Sam

[Scrounger]

Open your drapes and use a small fan to circulate your heat.

[The Paw]

Originally Posted by tamsam

They do make a plastic for windows that is so clear you won't know it is there. Look for it in kits that has double sided tape to put it on. Once you get it on take a hair drier or elect heater and heat it a little and it shrinks and takes the wrinkles out. If you have a lot of windows and can find it in rolls and the tape seperate it is a lot cheaper. Also it is easy to take off in spring and the tape pulls off fairly easy too. Makes a big difference in heat. Oh and it goes inside. Good luck. Sam

As Tansam says, they make kits and the plastic in the kits is very easy to see through, but it is awful thin. You have to be careful not to poke holes in it. A 6 mil vapour barrier plastic will let light through, but you can't really see through. It is however, more durable. You can kind of pick and choose depending on whether you want to see out of a particular window, or whether you only need light.