Initially, condensation may seem like a harmless nuisance that can be easily solved with a paper towel. Over time however, it can result in damage to your home and health problems for its occupants. Although condensation can never be fully eliminated, tools such as double-glazed windows can significantly reduce its occurrence.
In this article, we’ll explore how to remove condensation from double-glazed windows and how to tell if your double-glazed windows are effectively preventing condensation.
What Is Condensation?
Tackling the issue of how to remove condensation from double-glazed windows first requires that we answer the question ‘what is condensation?’ Condensation is the natural process whereby water vapour becomes liquid, due to falling temperatures. Given that water’s boiling point is 100℃, once the temperature drops below that point, water vapour can start to become liquid.
What Causes Condensation on Windows?
In the comfort of our own homes, we tend to do activities such as cooking, showering, and washing and drying clothes. Unfortunately, these activities are a source of excess humidity, as they release water vapour into the air. This phenomenon is further exacerbated during winter, when we use more heat. It also occurs when a building is poorly ventilated and excess water vapour cannot escape.
Condensation occurs when water vapour cools and becomes liquid. Therefore, when water vapour in the air makes contact with the cool surface of a window, the vapour will condense. This results in water droplets falling from the surface of the glass and forming pools on or around window frames.
Given that condensation is a natural occurrence and typical human activities generate excess water vapour, it’s easy to conclude that condensation is not a problem. However, condensation can settle on the surface of your home’s fixtures and cause serious damage in the form of rot or mould. Although the expense of replacement or repair can be significant, these are not the only concern. Mould spores can become airborne and exacerbate breathing problems such as asthma in your home’s occupants. Therefore, it is a problem that requires a solution. And double-glazing may be one of the most effective solutions.
Where Does Condensation Appear on Double-Glazed Windows?
Double-glazed windows are two panes of glass that have been mounted in a frame. The space between the two panes of glass is usually filled with argan gas, which is meant to serve as an insulator. The purpose of double glazing is to ensure that the temperature outside the building does not affect the temperature inside the building. It’s an effective way to improve your home’s energy efficiency, as it prevents heat and cool air from escaping. In the case of preventing condensation, double glazing helps to stabilise your home’s indoor temperature. Therefore, the water vapour and the window will be the same or near the same temperature, and condensation is less likely to occur.
Once you’ve installed double-glazed windows, you have to pay attention to where condensation appears, as this will indicate whether the double-glazing is working. With double-glazed windows, condensation is meant to appear solely on the outer pane, i.e. the pane that is facing outside of your home. In this scenario, the double-glazing is working. The gas in between the two panes serves as an insulator that prevents heat transfer between them. The seals around the windows are meant to keep out air and water from entering between the panes and into your house.
However, if condensation appears elsewhere, it’s indicative of a problem. Where condensation starts to form between the two glass panes, it means that one of the seals is likely damaged. Therefore, insulating gas is escaping, and air and water are filling the space. If left unresolved, it can affect the appearance of your windows, raising the question of how to remove condensation from double-glazed windows. This problem can deteriorate and compromise the inner glass pane. Once condensation begins to form on the inner glass, it may be a sign that the double glazing is no longer effective at preventing heat transfer. However, one must note that condensation on interior windows can also be a sign of excess humidity and poor ventilation, in addition to a broken seal. Therefore, you should employ a specialist to diagnose the true source of the problem.
Should You Replace Your Windows?
As previously mentioned, excess humidity in a house is a result of normal human activity. Therefore, condensation is nearly unavoidable. However, there are solutions as simple as opening windows during or after cooking and showering, and using a dehumidifier. If your condensation problem decreases after those measures, there is no need to replace your windows. Yet if the problem persists, you may be interested in more invasive measures such as improving your home’s ventilation system or replacing your single-glazed windows with double-glazed windows.
However, if your home already has double-glazed windows and condensation is forming in the space between the glass panes, it’s advised that you consider replacing your windows. The seals on the window are likely damaged due to age or exposure to the elements. If left unrepaired, water and air can seep in and cloud the window, rendering it translucent. Although there are various home remedies on how to remove condensation from double-glazed windows, bear in mind that you risk exacerbating the problem and damaging your window. If the frames of your windows are wooden, the excess water can rot the wood. For double-glazed windows that still experience condensation issues on the interior glass, it may be indicative of another issue. Therefore, in addition to replacing your windows, it’s important to consider other factors causing the problem.
Contact Atlantis Property Preservation
Condensation starts as a harmless nuisance but can gradually become a noticeable problem. The source and severity of the issue will determine the best measure to treat it. Before you rush into the time-consuming and expensive process of replacing all your windows, you should seek the evaluation of an expert who can diagnose the problem and guide you on the best course of action. Contact our experts today for a damp survey, where we can help you find and treat the source of condensation and other structural damp issues.
Although mild in appearance, condensation can wreak as much havoc on a home as other forms of damp, if left untreated. This is especially the case when found in and around windows. In this article, we’ll examine how condensation occurs and how to get rid of condensation inside windows.
What Is Condensation?
Before delving into how to get rid of condensation inside windows, it’s helpful to explain what condensation is and why it poses a serious threat to your property. Condensation is the process whereby water vapour makes contact with a cold surface and becomes liquid. This can appear as water droplets, pools of liquid water or a layer of dew on or around those surfaces. Aside from being a frustrating task to wipe away, condensation can have serious consequences in the form of mildew and black mould. These can bring damage to walls and furnishings, and spark breathing problems from inhaling mould spores.
Why Does Condensation Happen?
Day-to-day activities such as cooking, drying clothes indoors, and bathing increase the amount of water vapour inside a building. When that moisture cannot escape and temperatures decrease, the vapour will condense to liquid water on cold surfaces. This occurrence is especially prevalent during winter when activities are primarily done inside. At the same time, temperatures fluctuate due to heating going on and off, and plummeting temperatures outside.
How to Get Rid of Condensation Inside Your Windows
If your home suffers from condensation, it has likely made an appearance inside your windows. Typically, condensed water found inside double-glazed windows suggests that the seals around the window are damaged. Hiring a professional to replace the damaged seals will prevent further harm by condensation. However, when researching how to get rid of condensation inside your windows, ventilation and dehumidification are also useful methods. Opening windows, using ceiling fans or installing air vents to help moist air circulate can all help with ventilation. Investing in a dehumidifier will also remove water vapour, so that condensation can’t happen.
How to Prevent Condensation on Your Windows
Condensation is the result of simple daily actions. Similarly, preventing condensation can be achieved by simple actions. Solutions such as opening windows and rearranging houseplants seem small, yet demonstrate significant results when considering how to get rid of
condensation inside windows
Much like ceiling fans, extractor fans are useful in reducing moist air and preventing condensation. When installed in rooms that produce the most water vapour, for example kitchens and bathrooms, fans will siphon the moist air outside. Dehumidifiers are excellent tools to reduce moisture, although a certain amount of humidity is required in a property, generally around 30–50%. If you want to reduce condensation yet retain a healthy level of humidity, consider putting your dehumidifier on a lower setting. As unconventional as it sounds, the houseplants placed around your home can help to prevent condensation; the key is to use plants that absorb moist air. Aside from preventing condensation this can also improve overall air quality. Condensation is not only a consequence of moist air indoors, but also temperature fluctuations. Therefore, maintaining a low and consistent temperature for longer rather than changing the temperature for short periods of time will ensure a constant heat where condensation cannot form on surfaces.
Contact Atlantis Property Preservation
At Atlantis Property Preservation, our team of experts are on standby to help you to find the most suitable treatment for how to get rid of condensation inside windows.
Have you noticed a pungent, mushroomy smell wafting through your home? Are mould or stains forming on your walls or ceilings?
If the answer is yes, then you’re likely to be witnessing the first signs of condensation in your home.
Homeowners should be aware of the damage that condensation and damp can cause, and act fast to have it removed.
In this article, we identify the main signs of condensation and damp to watch out for, before explaining how you can treat damp in your home.
What Are the Main Signs of Damp?
Musty smells, visible moisture staining, rotting timbers and growths of mould are all visible signs of Condensation in your home.
But there are many more signs that may go unnoticed and only become apparent after a thorough inspection of the premises.
If you’ve noticed any of the following signs of damp or condensation, it’s time to call in a professional for a closer look:
Pungent, mushroom-like smells
Mouldy patches
Damp patches
Rotting timbers and woodwork
Salty tide marks on the walls
Cold or wet ceilings, walls or floors
Peeling plasterboard or wallpaper
Water droplets clinging to walls
Damaged or crumbling masonry
Leaks, broken pipes or damaged drains
What Problems Can Damp Leave You With?
Damp can damage your home, cause health problems, and lead to serious structural issues if left untreated. Major problems caused by damp include:
Damaged decoration and furnishings
Health issues, such as coughing, asthma and other respiratory problems
Rotten timbers and weakened structural supports
Weakened brickwork and masonry
The need for costly repairs
How Can You Treat Damp and condensation in Your Home?
If you spot any of the main signs of damp and condensation in your home, it’s important to schedule a professional damp survey immediately. A survey is the first step towards treating damp, and the surveyor will identify the cause, source and type of damp afflicting your home before recommending the best fix.
The exact treatment will depend on the type of damp, the extent of the damp problem and where it’s located, but common fixes include:
Repairing or replacing damaged brickwork and rotten timbers
Replastering walls with damp-proof materials
Lowering the external ground level of a building so it’s below the damp-proof course
How Can You Protect Your Home From Damp and condensation?
There are several ways to protect your home from damp in the future, the majority of which involve removing opportunities for moisture to enter your home and allowing moisture laden air to escape your home too. Common methods include:
Ensuring all pipes and gutters are fixed and clear of debris
Keeping your home well ventilated
installing ventilation systems
Injecting a damp-proof course into the walls
Contact Atlantis Property Preservation is to Find Out More about the Main Signs of Damp and Condensation
If you’re worried about damp in your home, Atlantis Property Preservation is here to help. Our highly qualified team of experts can advise you on the main signs of damp and carry out a professional survey to identify its source.
In this installment of The A-Z of Damp from Atlantis Property Preservation, C is for…… Condensation.
Condensation is a type of damp and is by far the most common cause of dampness in buildings. Furthermore, it probably accounting for the majority of damp problems reported. At Atlantis Property Preservation we pride ourselves in ensuring a correct diagnosis for your damp issue. (more…)
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