on the inside of my wood casement windows there is ice starting on the glass. its zero here at night and its starting to cause mold on the wood. is this normal?

 

Since they are starting to rot, it's probably normal for YOUR windows, but you certainly shouldn't put up with the situation!

I'm guessing that your wood framed casements are pretty old (more than 10 or 15 years). What's happening is that they are leaking air around the seals between the sashes and the frame, which is leading to condensation, and when it gets down to zero at nite, that moisture on the panes is freezing. This is making life tough on your heating system and your utility bill.

Replace the windows!

Depending on the size of your windows and what you choose for new ones, and whether you replace them yourself or hire it done, you are looking at somewhere between $200 and $500 each (and you can certainly spend more if you want to!).

Check with your local utility company -- they MAY be offering some sort of a rebate as an incentive for you to do this. But even without any rebate, new windows with low-E glass (and possibly argon in your case) that have an NFRC U-factor and SHGC ratings of .35 or lower are probably going to cut your heating costs by 25% or more.

 

actually the house is 3 months old. these are brand new kolbe/kolbe wood casement windows.

 

Then I'd wanna know IF you have them closed. I've seen folks flip the lever down and not actually engage the sash, thinking it was shut when it wasn't.

Are they ALL doing this ?

If that's the case, I'd think you probably have a humidity problem in your house. Go to Radio Shack or someplace and get a humidity meter and hang on the wall.....see what it reads.....this time of year, you ought to be under 50%....you may either have too much moisture in the house from an abnormal source, OR the house may be SO tight that it isn't getting enough air exchange from outside.

Look for sources.....lot's of hot showers ? Dryer not properly vented ? Lot of cooking going on ? house on crawl space without plastic on the ground ? Find and minimize sources.

 

Assuming you don't have high humidity levels, you might want to talk to the builder of your house. At two months old, it should be under some kind of warranty regarding the windows - and their installation.

 

correction...windows are casco casements.

the windows are shut properly. i made sure of that. Yes, all windows are doing this. Ill be getting a humidity meter this week and see if thats high. its seems dry in the house so i dont think that will be a factor.

i did go and get some window insulator kits. i put the 2sided tape on the back of the inside screens and then put the plastic on....without shrinking the plastic and warping the crap out of the screens. it seems to work. hardly any moisture on the windows. i would think that a new house woulnd need the plastic treatment