Condensation and moisture on the inside of windows are annoying in winter and can endanger both your home and your health. In the fall or winter, this is a sight that many people have to wake up to every morning. After wiping or vacuuming up small puddles of water on your windowsill, you'll no doubt wonder what's behind it. Why does water condense in your living space and how should you deal with such a problem? Below you will find some useful information and tips that can help you identify the causes and take correct action.
What can cause moisture or humidity on the inside of the window?
The main reason for wet windows is of courseFormation of condensation. This occurs when moisture condenses and turns from a gas into a liquid. If this is on your windows, it will make the windows appear foggy and can eventually roll down onto the windowsill and form small puddles of water. As you can imagine, there are various problems that wet windows cause. Windows allow natural light into your home and should give you a beautiful view of the outdoors. However, this is significantly hindered by condensation. The moisture can also cause further problems if it rolls your windows down to the threshold. Over time, the water can stain your windowsill or even weaken the structure. In the short term, it can also damage photos, ornaments, or cards you have placed on your windowsill.
However, is condensation really that bad? Well, it may be that condensation on your windows can cause problems. First, the moisture can damage your windowsill and anything placed on it. It can also be unsightly if you leave it like that. This also means the windows let in less natural light and the room feels colder. Condensation occurs more often at lower temperatures or at night. This is because cold air doesn't retain as much moisture as warmer air. At night, the body also releases an average of around 40 g of moisture per person. Additionally, wetness always finds the coldest part of a room. If your windows are not thermally efficient, that means moisture is being drawn to them. As the temperature drops throughout the night, the interior surface begins to get colder. This causes heat to be lost from your home through the windows.
Why condensation forms on interior window panes in the morning
The next question you may ask yourself is, “Why are my windows wet every morning?” In most cases, sunlight clears your windows of condensation during the day. So why do these always seem to fog up overnight? The answer is temperature. Even during the coldest weeks of winter, most people turn off the heat at night to save a bit of money on today's energy bills. A thicker duvet and cozy pajamas are usually enough to keep you warm while you fall asleep. However, while you're in the land of sleep, the air inside becomes cold and doesn't hold as much moisture as warm air, so the moisture looks for a place to drain.
Added to this is the moisture you release when you sleep, with an estimated 40g of water vapor produced by breathing and sweating at night. If the moisture cannot find a way out through ventilation and open windows, it moves to cold surfaces. In most cases, windows are the first port of call. If they are not particularly thermally efficient, their inner surface will become cold throughout the night. The outside temperature is also dropping and there is little to stop the cold from getting inside your windows. For this reason, single glazed windows are invariably wet in the morning, although double glazing is by no means exempt.
Improve thermal efficiency and prevent moisture on the inside of the window
Since inefficient double glazing is a magnet for condensation, it would be best to try to make the window panes more thermally efficient. Aside from ventilating your home throughout the day to remove moisture more often, the only practical way to make it more thermally efficient and prevent condensation from forming is to have it replaced with brand new double glazing. However, this can be expensive and cause inconvenience during repairs. In addition to the disruptive installation process, new windows can also disrupt the character of your home. This is particularly true if you live in an older property, which is why replacing windows in listed buildings is prohibited.
Fortunately, secondary glazing with a tarpaulin provides a more practical solution. Attached to the inner recess of the window, the subtle secondary panel forms an effective seal to keep moisture out. This extra layer also prevents the inside of your windows from getting too cold, preventing moisture from accumulating on the surface. There is also no impact on the existing windows, so the appearance of your interior design is not really affected. This is why it is actually recommended to use secondary glazing on older windows. This can save you money on your energy bills in the long run and make your home more comfortable overall. In addition, this increases theHeat storage capacity of your home.
Tips for preventing condensation on the inside of windows
If you have condensation on the inside of a window or room, it is a sign that the humidity in your home is higher than outside. This can be caused by a number of things including cooking, showering, houseplants, and even laundry. The relative humidity in your home should therefore always be below 60 percent. Ideally, you should keep this somewhere between 30 and 50 percent. However, it is normal for it to be at the lower end of the range or slightly below during the winter months. So stopping condensation on the inside of your windows starts with measuring relative humidity. To do this, you can get a small, inexpensive moisture meter. Once you know how humid your home is, you can take the following steps to lower levels and prevent condensation:
Follow simple steps if there is moisture on the inside of the window
- Keep window decorations open– Condensation is more likely to occur when curtains or curtains are closed and blinds are drawn. Therefore, try to draw your window treatments so that the heat is not trapped on your window pane.
- Allow air to circulate– Just as a gentle breeze can mitigate the humidity outside, some air circulation indoors would do wonders. You can also use clockwise ceiling fans in the winter to move warm air downward from the ceiling of your room.
- humidifierTurn down - If you are using a humidifier in a child's room to treat a cold or as part of your oven, for example, you can turn it off until the relative humidity decreases.
- For oneadequate ventilationcare – Some living areas are more susceptible to moisture, such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. So make sure your exhaust fans are running when cooking and showering. Also make sure that these devices and the ventilation of your dryer are in good condition. If you don't have these, you can try opening your window a little for a few minutes to dry the air.
- Keep firewood outside for heating– Cut plants also bring moisture into the air, although this also applies toFirewood dryingapplies. Therefore, if you have a wood-burning fireplace, you should keep such fuel outside to prevent humidity.
- Dry laundry properly– Never dry laundry indoors on a rack or line when it is cold outside. Each load releases almost 5 liters of water into the air. The second advantage of this measure concerns indoor air quality. Artificial scents in detergents and fabric softeners largely evaporate to the outside, so you don't have to breathe them in your living space.
Final thoughts
The cure for condensation is to prevent condensation from occurring in the first place. If you have identified a problem like this, you may be able to help yourself. In principle, condensation and any resulting problems such as mold formation on windows can never be completely eliminated. In such cases, you can either hire a professional service or deal with it yourself using the instructions above. If you're not sure whether it's condensation, rising damp, or a roof leak, you should call a professional.
Also read: “WHY DO WINDOWS SWEAT & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT? IDENTIFY CAUSES OF CONDENSATION & TAKE ACTION!”
