Vick's Vapourizer Use / Will sweating (inside) windows damage the walls of a house?

Question

We have a baby and we use a Vicks Vaporizer in his room (especially when he is sick). Well, now it seems we ONLY use it at night when he's sick.- mostly because my husband is against using it - b/c he thinks our house is too humid -and is the reason behind the sweaty windows. Well, it is doctor's orders to use it. Anyhow, all the windows in the house now have various degrees of inner-pane sweating . The windows are relatively new, apparently. I am aware that an inert gas (e.g. Argon) should be present between the 2 panes. Do all 'newer' windows (whether low, mid or high end) have this gas? Bottom line: My husband thinks the house (i.e. walls) will be damaged if we continue to use the Vapourizer. Is this true? I know with my previous house at this time of year (October) in Southern Ontario, I had sweaty panes once the colder weather arrived. This topic is becoming a sore-spot for us. If Vicks Vapourizers are so bad, why are all the parents using them for their sick babies?

The window is only sweating on the inside of the house (not between the panes). You can easily wipe if off.

We use the Vick's Vapourizer to relieve our baby's Bronchitis relieved, per Doctor's orders. We do not use this as a general humidifier.

Answer 1

If you have sweating between the panes, then the seal on the window has failed and your only recourse is to replace them.

As for the high humidity in the house, you are creating a good environment for mold and mildew. I would go to the hardware store and buy a humidistat and check the humidity level in the house. If it is too high, you should use a dehumidifier. I would also wipe down the windows and sills with a bleach solution.

A vaporizer is usually used in the dead of winter when the humidity in the home is very low.

Answer 2

Turn on a fan. Air movement around the house will stop the pooling of warm air against the cold windows......hence the sweating. Yes, the added humidity has increased the likely hood you'll have sweaty windows, but the air movement will help. If you have forced air heat, when the furnace is on blowing air around the house, the condensation problem is less.

Now as for the cloudy glass, you've lost your seals. We must have bought the same windows because after 15 years mine are a mess too. You can fix the windows by replacing the glass, not the whole window....but more than likely structural problems lead to the initial failure and they may occurr again.

As for the walls rotting, I'm assuming you have paint on the walls......so there is already a moisture barrier. Your husband tends to be rather dramatic.......this is not a good sign. Hope you know how to settle him down. In the mean time, turn on the fans and get the air moving.

Answer 3

Most new windows do have the gas, yes. Glass manufacturers produce the insulated glass in gas filled rooms. It has nothing to do with the water condensation on your windows, other than without the gas, your windows would condensate at a slightly higher outdoor temperature. It happens because of the amount of water vapor in the air in your home.

Condensation can cause damage, particularly on wood framed windows. Use the vaporizer and maybe place some rolled up towels under the windows in baby's room.