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Window condensation can be a particularly frustrating problem when you don’t know where the moisture is coming from. You might not know the specifics of what’s happening but you know that your windows aren’t supposed to have moisture within their panes. So what’s the deal here? To understand the problem, it’s best to know where condensation comes from in the first place.
When water evaporates, it doesn’t actually disappear. Instead, it dissolves into the air and turns from liquid water into water vapor, an invisible gas. The hotter the air, the more water vapor it can hold; this is why hot air is humid. The more dissolved water vapor there are, the more humid it will get.
You too are contributing to water vapor in the air when you breathe out. Aside from respiration, however, there are other activities inside the home that add to the air’s moisture content, like doing laundry and taking a bath.
Condensation forms when warm air meets a cold surface. As windows feature some of the coldest surfaces in your home, they are also one of the first to show condensation when warm air blows over them. At the point that warm air meets a cold window, water vapor condenses on the glass as water droplets. Condensation on a window’s surface looks harmless but you can’t ignore it because constant exposure to moisture hastens wear and tear. What about moisture between panes? Condensation gets inside the panes of a window when the unit’s seals have started to fail, meaning spaces between glazing are no longer airtight. You also can’t ignore this because aside from moisture exposure, you’re also looking at a window’s reduced insulative capability.
Condensation in and of itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s just the visible sign of a natural process, and steps can be taken to minimize it. It is when it’s happening too often or is occurring within window panes that we need to take notice. Consider the following:
• Check your humidity. If, no matter what you do, the condensation keeps forming, then you need to check certain things. First off, what’s humidity like in your home? A humidity level of 40% or less is considered healthy. If your home is constantly at a higher humidity than that, then you could be looking at the cause of your window condensation right there. Take note of your home’s ventilation as well. Is the air in your home cycling to get rid of the humidity? If your home is excessively humid, condensation is more than likely to keep recurring.
• Check your windows. Check your window panes and window frames for damage and inadequate sealing. Cracks in the glass, damage to the frame and inadequate caulking and weatherstripping can all allow moisture from the outside to penetrate into your home. There could also be a problem with the metal spacers between the window panes.
• Beware of rot. If condensation is forming on window glass, then you can be sure it’s forming on other surfaces as well. Chronically high levels of humidity can cause structural problems in your windows, as paint starts to peel and rot and mildew start to form. Not to mention the potential health hazard that mold that comes with rot can bring. As your window deteriorates due to excessive condensation, it will be harder to operate and may even reach a point when they can no longer be used at all, staying either ajar or shut, which is both inconvenient to you.
Condensation and built-up humidity are, by their nature, facts of our lives. And yet, not every homeowner suffers from the same problems with excess condensation and moisture. What, then can be done to reduce or eliminate the problem in our homes? What do we, as homeowners, need to do to guard against excess condensation?
One of the simplest ways to reduce condensation is to install windows that use the latest technology. This is especially true if the windows in your home still use old single-pane glass. Advances in window technology offer better seals than what older models were fitted with, offering not just improved protection against condensation but air leakage as well. As kitchens and bathrooms have high humidity levels, they are great places to start with replacements.
Do you run your bathroom vent fan after you take a shower or bath? Running it for 15 minutes afterwards helps a lot to reduce humidity. Make sure, however, that it is venting the humid air outside, and that there is a large enough gap under your bathroom door to allow air to enter.
Is your clothes dryer properly venting to the outside? Do you keep your inside doors all closed? If so, you might want to try leaving them open to let the air circulate. If you find certain rooms more humid than others, then that’s a big sign that the room isn’t ventilating properly. Simply leaving the door ajar can help alleviate the problem. Whenever possible, consider opening your windows as well to aid in moisture elimination.
There are several ways to address window condensation and replacing faulty windows is one of, if not THE, most effective. Work with a reputable contractor and you’re sure to make the most out of your window replacement.
For more information on our window and door replacement services, contact Renewal by Andersen online today!