The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #133566   Message #3032914
Posted By: JohnInKansas
15-Nov-10 - 03:45 PM
Thread Name: BS: Sweaty windows
Subject: RE: BS: Sweaty windows
You could use the method used in air conditioned autos.

I haven't checked on recent models, but a few years back whenever the AC compressor was run it held the evaporator at a constant temperature, typically 40F (4C). (Anything colder could cause it to ice up.)

If you wanted anything "less cold" than that, the heater re-heated the cold air that came through the evaporator, and/or mixed hot air with it.

Since nearly all the moisture in the air that came through the evaporator was "wrung out" and reheating it additionally reduced the relative humidity, the re-heated air was very dry, and (theoretically) your windows didn't fog up.

Usually, anytime the defroster/demister setting was selected, the AC was automatically turned on, but if the OAT was below 40F/4C of course it wouldn't run. At temps that low, a relative humidity of 100% is pretty close to an absolute humidiy of "nothing much," so it didn't matter whether it ran or not.

So the simple solution is to turn your air conditioner on to wring out the moisture, and at the same time turn on your furnace to warm things up. You should have nice dry air in the house so that the windows won't drip. Just be sure that the condensate drain on the AC doesn't freeze up and drip back inside.

John