Are you bothered by the condensation on your house windows? Waking up to cold glass and condensation around windows might be a nuisance; that explains why you are here.
Condensation forms mainly during the winter months or colder months, due to when warm outdoor temperatures and cold surfaces meet. It is just a simple occurrence, but it is annoying, especially when you have to wipe it every morning. Since a windowpane has an interior space with cold temperature, it is prone to condensation. Window condensation could be a sign of excellent insulation, but it could increase your home’s humidity levels, resulting in mold growth. Read more on this page to find out what to do with condensation on house windows.
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Is condensation on windows normal?
It may be annoying and frustrating, but it is entirely normal. It can be the effects of winter because it is caused by above-average humidity levels inside and fluctuations in temperature outdoors. Even your high-performance windows can experience condensation due to their tight seal, which does not allow air circulation to happen.
Excessive moisture or condensation between window panes results from a significant temperature differential inside your home and outdoors.
Why is condensation on windows bad?
Window condensation may be a sign of something more serious. A damp caused by condensation on glass may lead to water damage resulting in mold growth. Your window frames may also rot, and it may also cause discoloration. In addition, condensation between your panes of glass may be a result of a faulty seal. Condensation may not be a sign of a faulty window, but you may call and ask a professional window contractor to know if any of these may bring bigger problems in the future.
Why do I get so much condensation on the inside of my windows?
Expect beads of moisture on your windows whenever cold months arrive; those are mainly because of the remarkable difference in temperature. While on the other side, exterior window condensation also occurs. A decreasing exterior surface temperature may usually happen in summer or spring; when it has excess humidity outside, cold at night follows. Inside condensation may be a sign of a ventilation issue.
What Causes Condensation Inside Windows
If you wake up one morning and notice that condensations form on your windows, you don’t have to panic. Continue reading to know the source of condensation on your windows.
Excessive humidity in homes
Too much indoor humidity may result in condensation when the cold glass pane and warm or moist inside air meets. It is recommended by the Better Business Bureau to maintain a 25 to 30-percent relative indoor humidity.
Weather
Condensation may constantly be a battle during winter months because it forms because of the humidity inside and the dropping temperature outside. Interior window condensation happens when warm air meets cold windows.
Your habits
Sometimes, your habits are the cause. When you are cooking or showering, steam is produced. You may have left the exhaust fans off, resulting in trapping the heat inside.
How to Prevent Condensation on Windows
The EPA recommends picking up a hygrometer to measure the conditions of humidity inside your house. After figuring out the amounts of humidity your home has, you may do one of these:
Circulate the air
To circulate the air, you may turn on your ceiling fans and make sure it runs in a clockwise direction. It helps with moving the warm air from the top to the bottom of your room.
Keep window treatments open.
Heat may be trapped if your shades are pulled down; this may result in excess moisture. Therefore, keeping your window treatments open may do wonders as it won’t trap the heat.
Properly ventilate your house.
Running exhaust fans when cooking or taking a show might be a good idea to ventilate your house because kitchen and bathroom areas are more vulnerable to excess moisture.
Installing storm windows
Storm windows have space between the exterior-facing and interior-facing glass. They help with reducing condensation on interior windows, which may prevent frost build-up.
Tips on Dealing with Excessive Condensation on Windows
There are different types of window condensation- exterior, interior, and between window panes. Condensation might also form because of your habits, so in this part, you will figure out different tips on how to deal with condensation on windows.
Tip #1: Turn on bathroom fans
Properly ventilating your house may help with the excess moisture inside. When you are showering, humid air must get out of your home; you must ensure to run your bathroom fans. You might not know, but the longer you take a shower, the heater it gets, thus more water vapor is released. Also, a good bath mat helps with soaking up moisture. You may also keep your bathroom doors closed to keep the moisture away from the rooms.
Tip #2: Run kitchen fans
To reduce the avoidable humidity source when cooking, you must turn on your kitchen exhaust fans to let some humid air out. You may also use pan covers when cooking to reduce the moisture.
Tip #3: Check for water leaks
Leaks should always be checked because they will effortlessly turn into a bigger problem in the future. Checking gutters, roof coverings for signs of a leak might be best to reduce condensation inside.
Tip #4: Houseplants
If you have indoor plants on your window sills, it’s time to reevaluate. It may unexpectedly be one of the causes of your window condensation.
Tip #5: Purchase a dehumidifier
An efficient dehumidifier ranges from $200 to $300, and it may be an expensive way for you, but it helps with removing moisture. Some dehumidifiers automatically turn off when a comfortable humidity level has been reached.
Tip #6: Switch your type of window
Double-paned windows have excellent insulating properties, that is why it became a common feature in houses. Updating your original window to Double- or triple-paned windows may help with mitigating condensation. Always opt for energy-efficient replacement windows.
Related: Best Window Replacement to Get for Your Home
Tip #7: Call for help
The condensation on your windows may not be because of your high humidity but a more severe problem. Asking a professional or a reliable window company about it would be highly suggested.
Different Dangers that Occur from Window Condensation
You might not know, but there are other effects that you may get from window condensation. It may look like a tiny issue, but it may bring more significant troubles in the future.
Mold Growth
Your nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, skin irritation might be because of the molds. Those with mold allergies might have different but worse reactions to molds, and people with lung illnesses may get infected after being exposed to molds. If you notice dots around windows, those are alarming signs of condensation.
Damp Indoor Environment
The reason why you are wheezing or coughing might be because of your exposure to a damp indoor environment. People with asthma may experience shortness of breathing to respiratory illness. In addition, other studies have cited that it can contribute to the development of asthma in children.
Ask more about condensation on windows from a professional replacement window contractor.
Condensation may be a minor problem to you since you can just wipe it every morning or because it also disappears, but sometimes it is not. You may get a hygrometer to test your home’s humidity, and you may also ask a professional about it. A reliable window replacement company may be there to help you with your condensation problems.
