Many different reasons for those wet windows
Q What can my sister do to get rid of wintertime window condensation? The company that installed their windows repeatedly say that their windows are not the source of the problem. She already has an air exchanger, but is planning to get a bigger one to solve the problem. Do you have any suggestions for finding a reliable installer?
A Before your sister hires anyone there are a couple of things to consider. It may be that the current air exchanger isn’t working properly or not working at a high enough speed. Your sister should clean the filters and see what speed the unit is running at. Also, some air exchangers have a humidistat that shuts down the unit at a preset level of humidity. It’s possible that this humidistat needs to be set lower. The reason I mention these things is because I’ve never seen an air exchanger that was too small to work properly in a house of up to a couple of thousand square feet. That’s why I suspect it might not be working properly.
Also, it’s possible that a furnace humidifier is working during the heating season, adding moisture to the air faster than the exchanger is taking it out. If your sister’s house does have a humidifier, she should shut it off when the cold weather comes and see what effect that has. One thing is for sure, an increase in condensation that happens when new windows are installed is never the root cause of the condensation problem. Tighter, better windows can make condensation worse, but only because they highlight the need to increase household ventilation.
If you’re looking for a reputable installer, find three to five heating and ventilation contractors in your area then ask for homeowner references and check them out. This is the best way to find good people, though it’s surprising how few homeowners bother with this.
SHOP VAC FOR BASEMENT CLEANING Q What’s the best way to clean the dust and cobwebs from the ceiling of an unfinished basement? I’m replacing old shelves and the basement is open and bare right now.
A If this were an outdoor situation, I’d recommend a powerful leaf blower. They’re a great tool for cleaning things when it doesn’t matter where the dirt goes.
In your case, because you’re working indoors, a shop vac with a wand and dusting brush is probably your best bet. It will be challenging to work around all the floor joists, but I can’t think of a better option. That said, you’ll want to get the most powerful shop vac you can find. It’s going to take some serious suction to make the job go well. A small or medium-size model won’t have the power necessary.
DRYING A WET STONE BASEMENT Q How can I make my 100-yearold stone basement dry? I’m 80 years old, I’ve always done everything myself, and I don’t want to stop now. I also don’t want to go to a lot of trouble and expense.
A Unfortunately, I don’t know of a completely certain way of making your basement dry without also making a big mess of your yard and chequebook. That said, I can offer a few suggestions that will help.
First, install a second sump pump to increase the pumping capacity in your basement. I’d also make sure that both pumps are set into a sump recessed into the floor.
If you can keep the level of water below the level of the basement floor, it will make quite a difference. Also, it won’t hurt to coat the inside of your basement walls with a truly waterproof product. There are two that I know work well. Xypex and Drylok are great.