Most of us have experienced window condensation at some point in our homes, and you may have wondered whether or not this is normal and how it can affect your home. We’re here to fill you in on the different causes of condensation and at what point you need to take action before it starts negatively affecting the structure of your home and even air quality.
Ongoing condensation on the insides of your windows can lead to mould building up (which in turn can cause health problems), can damage walls and the structure of your window frames, and can damage soft furnishings too.
Causes Of Window Condensation
There are a number of different causes of window condensation and each can lead to condensation in different places and vary in severity.
Your home is warm and you aren’t ventilating
Condensation occurs when the warm air inside your home hits a cold surface, and as many homes become warmer with more effective heating and insulation, there is more warm air to hit your cooler windows during the winter months. If you keep all windows closed and don’t have a ventilation system, then there is nowhere for the moisture caused by the warm air to escape, often leaving your windows with condensation.
Your windows aren’t double or triple glazed
Single glazed windows are one of the largest contributors to indoor condensation as the single pane of glass cools down to become a very similar temperature to the outdoors. In turn, this creates a very cold surface for the warm indoor air to hit, increasing the amount of condensation that will build.
Double and triple glazed windows on the other hand are much better at preventing internal condensation, as the glass pane that is on the inside is protected from the temperatures outdoors. This minimises the cold surface affect and prevents moisture from forming!
Your windows are not sealed properly or they have been damaged
If your window’s seals are no longer doing their job, you are likely to see frequent condensation forming in between the panes of glass on your double or triple glazed windows. This means that your home’s warm air and the moisture it causes is able to get into your double-glazing and hits the exterior pane of glass which will be cold, causing condensation to build up easily.
How To Prevent Window Condensation
To remedy these causes, there are a few things you can do to keep your home dry inside.
- Make sure you are keeping your spaces well ventilated. Proper ventilation helps all of the moisture escape and avoids mould and mildew build-ups. You should ensure that all of your windows are easy to access and open/close so that you can always ventilate when you need to.
- Wipe condensation away. Small amounts of condensation are normal, particularly in winter and in homes with great insulation. Using a cloth or towel you can wipe this away to keep your windows clear and prevent it from turning into damp or mould.
- Upgrade your windows. If you’re noticing significant amounts of condensation, then it could be a sign that your windows are no longer doing their job properly. You may have single-glazed windows (although unlikely in 2023), or your seals and frames might no longer be effective enough, which could be leading to unnecessary internal condensation. Upgrading to the latest double and triple glazed windows ensures that your windows are properly sealed and that the interior pane of glass is effectively protected from the outside temperatures!
If you are finding that your windows are frequently covered with condensation and you are struggling to prevent this issue, get in touch with us today. When significant levels of condensation occur frequently, this could be a cause for concern as this is when mould and damp begin to form, potentially harming health and damaging your home. We can help you to see whether your windows may be damaged and provide you with some of the latest solutions that provide more effective double and triple glazing.
