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Condensation is a common problem on uninsulated windows, and even some insulated windows in winter. For homeowners who have this issue, condensation can be a pain and a home maintenance, health and safety problem. It makes windows difficult to use, and also creates a soggy wet mess that periodically needs to be wiped up. Not to mention it can lead to mold, mildew and even rotting of your window and home framing.
On an especially cold winter day, the inside temperature of uninsulated single pane window glass can get down into the low 40s or 30s or lower. Cold window glass causes inside air around the windows to become cold, which then leads water in the air inside your home to hit the dew point and bead up on the glass.
This happens for the same reasons that a glass of ice water collects condensation in the summer. This phenomenon is especially noticeable in parts of the house where humidity is higher, like in the bathroom or the kitchen.
Foggy windows are more than just a pain: they’re a maintenance problem. Water that collects on the inside of your windows may eventually dribble down to the sills and collect in a puddle, where they can cause mildew and rot. Window sills that are constantly exposed to moisture throughout the winter may start to peel or the sealant may deteriorate prematurely.
Dual-pane windows are made of two panes of glass with a space in between. If the seal around the glass has broken, moisture can seep into the space between these two panes, causing the view out the window to become foggy. The loss of insulation value when the seal is broken can also allow condensation to form on the inside of the window in cold temperatures when there is high humidity in the room. The only way to fix this problem is to have the window repaired or replaced by a professional.
There are multiple ways to stop window condensation, depending on the conditions in your house. Pick the solution that makes the most sense for your home.
The ideal indoor humidity in winter is between 40 and 60 percent, so if your home is on the upper end of that, a de-humidifier can help. If you experience this problem in only a few rooms, buy a portable dehumidifier and run it in whatever room is having trouble. You should also look into the causes of the high humidity in the first place.
Run vents in rooms that have them, like in the kitchen and bathroom. Turn on the vents as soon as you start to generate humidity, like as soon as you turn on the shower or as soon as you start to boil the water. You should leave them on for a little while after whatever activity is causing the humidity.
Ultimately, the humidity in your home is only part of the problem. The other part of the problem is the temperature of the glass on the interior side of your windows. Single-pane windows in particular can collect condensation because they have little or no insulation, and thus become very cold when the air outside is very cold.
New windows can eliminate problems with window fogging and improve your home’s value. Contact Renewal by Andersen of Long Island at (866) 609-5033 or fill out the form on this page for a free consultation.
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