Guest guest Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Kathy, You are right to be concerned about moisture accumulation from condensation inside a vapor barrier over windows in a cold climate. The other issue is if the windows are enclosed how will they out- gass? That's like putting a smelly book (or other object) inside a couple of baggies or sealed with foil until they out-gass. They can't! They need to be open to moving air with warmth. Which begs the question of how do you tolerate your toxic windows until they out-gas sufficiently? The situation you describe is very difficult iwith no easy answers. I'd suggest starting with one room, usually a bedroom or an oasis room, and putting plastic over only that window. Watch for condensation, perhaps opening it to ventilate out the humidity every couple of days - assuming you haven't already done so to remove visible condensation. If condensation isn't visible you might get a digital humidity meter like from Radio Shack and put behind the plastic. Watch it and if it never goes above 50-60% you should be okay. Where this is sufficient or not will largely depend on how much impact they have on you now and over time. Carl Grimes Healthy Habitats LLC ----- HiGroup- Hoping to get some experience/feedback/opinions/expertise from youfolks on one of thepresentedoptions for my toxic windows. Right after the install and as soon as I realized theVOC problem, immediately did phone consults w/both my Canadian and also Texas based environ consultants.One had a recommendation that I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around...and that is to vapor barrier my windows until the point in time where they have offgassed enough for personal tolerance. I was very caught off guard by this recommendation. I've done vapor barrier applications in the past but never involving as manymultiple potential high moisture areas as what Iwill needtocover. Or maybe it's not as much moisture potential as I am making it out to be. Ihave 13 total windows in my house, all casements,many w/duplicate sashes for a total of 24 . So it's a lot of area to becovered involving the one mainwall in everysingle room. I also live in one of the snowiest placesintheUS with extreme long cold winters and short cool summers.We are a total haven for moisture accumulation and am surprised that every mold in the universe hasn't migrated and set up shop here..lol..although I'm surewe have some unique indigenous species.Anyway, because this involves ourweather extremes, exterior walls andwindows....I am scared to death that if covered, I will starta moisture problem. In case it's a factor for any potential responses...my new windows are fir wood/triple pane/triple e/double argon andthe jams wereinternally vapor barrieredupon install.The exterior of my house is cedar channel, Obdyke House Slicker, wrap and then wall sheathing. That all said, sure would appreciate your feedback. Kathy PS: Please note that I have no financial or vested interest in any person, place, object or anything else mentioned in this posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 What windows do you have, yo say they are " fir " , are they vinyl wrapped? What exactly leads you to conclude they are " offgassing voc's " ? Wrapping the windows by taping plastic over the interior side may or may not cause moisture to condense between the plastic and interior side of the window. Likely, not. In the winter, the window becomes the object of dew point, so keeping warm indoor moist air away from the dew point surfaces is what you want. The companies that sell do-it-yourself window weatherization kits know this and sell millions of them to help keep out cold in winter. That is one option for " moisture barrier " ing the current windows. In summer, if you air condition, the warm outdoor air will hit the interior surface, and if that surface is cool enough (from a/c) then the insside of the plastic may become the condensing surface, and the moisture may drip, be absorbed, cause growth, or damage something. This all being fine and dandy, it really brings us back to the problem you face. I assume you are having a " reaction " to something you think is a VOC, and the windows are the assumed culprit. > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Group- > > Hoping to get some experience/feedback/opinions/expertise from you folks on one of the presented options for my toxic windows. > > Right after the install and as soon as I realized the VOC problem, immediately did phone consults w/both my Canadian and also Texas based environ consultants. One had a recommendation that I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around...and that is to vapor barrier my windows until the point in time where they have offgassed enough for personal tolerance. > > I was very caught off guard by this recommendation. I've done vapor barrier applications in the past but never involving as many multiple potential high moisture areas as what I will need to cover. Or maybe it's not as much moisture potential as I am making it out to be. > > I have 13 total windows in my house, all casements, many w/duplicate sashes for a total of 24 . So it's a lot of area to be covered involving the one main wall in every single room. I also live in one of the snowiest places in the US with extreme long cold winters and short cool summers. We are a total haven for moisture accumulation and am surprised that every mold in the universe hasn't migrated and set up shop here..lol..although I'm sure we have some unique indigenous species. Anyway, because this involves our weather extremes, exterior walls and windows....I am scared to death that if covered, I will start a moisture problem. > > In case it's a factor for any potential responses...my new windows are fir wood/triple pane/triple e/double argon and the jams were internally vapor barriered upon install. The exterior of my house is cedar channel, Obdyke House Slicker, wrap and then wall sheathing. > > That all said, sure would appreciate your feedback. > > Kathy > PS: Please note that I have no financial or vested interest in any person, place, object or anything else mentioned in this posting. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 If you put plastic over a window and you do happen to see moisture condense on the interior side, you better ask why? There should be no vapor in the space between the window and the plastic cover. If there is, it has to come from somewhere, and that somewhere is likely the walls via the window jamb/casing assembly. And that would not be good! Also, if voc's are building up, you do have to consider how they will escape to the outdoors if they get 'trapped' between the window and the plastic. THEN, you ought to consider if the plastic you use (and the tape) will also offgas VOC's -- they will, and is that going to be the next problem. You do have a mighty sticky problem here. S > > Kathy, > > You are right to be concerned about moisture accumulation from > condensation inside a vapor barrier over windows in a cold > climate. > > The other issue is if the windows are enclosed how will they out- > gass? That's like putting a smelly book (or other object) inside a > couple of baggies or sealed with foil until they out-gass. They > can't! They need to be open to moving air with warmth. > > Which begs the question of how do you tolerate your toxic > windows until they out-gas sufficiently? The situation you > describe is very difficult iwith no easy answers. > > I'd suggest starting with one room, usually a bedroom or an oasis > room, and putting plastic over only that window. Watch for > condensation, perhaps opening it to ventilate out the humidity > every couple of days - assuming you haven't already done so to > remove visible condensation. If condensation isn't visible you > might get a digital humidity meter like from Radio Shack and put > behind the plastic. Watch it and if it never goes above 50-60% > you should be okay. > > Where this is sufficient or not will largely depend on how much > impact they have on you now and over time. > > Carl Grimes > Healthy Habitats LLC > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 While on the topic of new windows. Does anyone know which type are the best to have installed. Our house was built in 1968 and it in excellent condition. I would eventually like to install new carefree windows but don't want to end up sick from them. Right now they are fine but require painting and you can feel air around them when it is very cold and windy. House stays warm & I guess it's good for a house to breathe a little. Sue You are right to be concerned about moisture accumulation from condensation inside a vapor barrier over windows in a cold climate. The other issue is if the windows are enclosed how will they out- gass? That's like putting a smelly book (or other object) inside a couple of baggies or sealed with foil until they out-gass. They can't! They need to be open to moving air with warmth. Which begs the question of how do you tolerate your toxic windows until they out-gas sufficiently? The situation you describe is very difficult iwith no easy answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.