I live in a flat, about 10 years old, windows are wooden frame double glazing. Now the weathers got cooler I wake most mornings to find condensation on every window. I have to use a car scraper & kitchen roll to get rid of it. I do open windows, close doors & use extractor fan in both kitchen & bathroom (although bathroom has no window, just the fan). I always open the window & close the door when using tumble dryer. I know ventilation is key but I don't like to keep my windows open at night. Any other ideas? Should I be keeping my heating on low but constant rather than turning it on as & when we feel we need it? I tried a tip a hairdresser friend gave me, rubbing the window with washing up liquid, it did help but all windows looked smeary! Any tips much appreciated
With wooden framed windows that old, it's likely they've lost the Argon or other inert gas charge between the panes. You'll normally see some condensation between the panes as well. One thing you could do until you choose to replace the windows is buy a de-humidifier for the area. They're not too expensive, however they're a pain in the butt to empty the fill tray about once every two or three days...
It's always better to get rid of the water vapour if you can, to save the cost and hassle with dehumidifiers.
Modern windows are fitted with "trickle" vents at the top. You can leave these open without feeling insecure, or putting up with a howling gale.