Misty, foggy, or cloudy windows are a common problem that many of us face, particularly in the colder months. Whether it's condensation on your car windscreen, windows and doors in your home, or the mirrors in your bathroom. The foggy appearance not only obstructs visibility but can also be a sign of a larger underlying issue. Let’s start by understanding exactly what condensation is and how it can be reduced.
What is condensation?
Well, the exact definition is ‘water which collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it’. But what does this really mean? When warm air with moisture in it touches a cooler surface, like glass, it forms tiny water droplets on the cold surface.
Different types of condensation
Exterior Condensation
Exterior condensation on a window happens when the outside surface of the glass is cooler than the surrounding warm, humid air. This is common during cooler nights followed by warm mornings. When the warm air comes into contact with the cooler window surface, the water in the air condenses into tiny droplets. This then forms a foggy layer on the outside of the window.
This condensation is perfectly normal and is in fact a good thing. This tends to happen with newer, energy-efficient windows. Because they insulate so well that the inside of the window stays warm while the outer glass remains cool. It's a sign that the window is effectively insulating your home and not letting heat escape.
Interior Condensation
Interior condensation happens when moisture from inside your home condenses on the inside surface of glass. This happens when the warm, moist air inside your house comes into contact with the cold surface of a window. As the air cools, it can no longer hold as much moisture, so water turns into liquid droplets on the window.
Some common causes of interior condensation include excessive indoor humidity from activities like showering, cooking, or drying clothes. Also, poor ventilation, insufficient insulation or single glazed windows, which allow the window surface to get colder. Reducing indoor humidity and improving ventilation can help minimise interior condensation.
Excessive humidity and moisture in the home can lead to long term problems which can even be harmful to your health. Excessive moisture can cause structural damage in the home such as rotted wood, drywall and insulation issues.
Between the glass Condensation
Condensation in between the glass panes usually occurs in double or triple glazed windows. This means the seal between the panes is broken. When the seal breaks it allows moisture to get trapped inside the double glazed unit and condensation form on the inside of the glass that can't be wiped away.
Some other causes of between the glass condensation can include poor manufacturing or installation. Windows that aren't properly sealed during this process can lead to them breaking down prematurely. Extreme temperature fluctuations can also cause between the glass condensation. As they cause the materials in the window to expand and contract, eventually leading to the seal breaking down.
If condensation appears between the glass, the window's insulating effectiveness is compromised, and the best long-term solution is to replace the affected doubled glazed unit or the window entirely.
How to stop condensation
To reduce the amount of condensation on your windows there are several things you can do. Improving ventilation would be one of the most important options. This could be as simple as opening a trickle vent or window to allow the fresh air to circulate.
Using exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to help reduce moisture from showering and cooking. Using a dehumidifier would be another good option. Also maintaining a steady and consistent temperature in your home, not letting it get too hot or cold.
Lastly, drying your clothes outside will greatly help reduce the amount of excess moisture in the air. Although that can be rather difficult with the unpredictable weather in the UK! A good option would be to have a dehumidifier running if you are planning to dry your clothes inside or use a tumble dryer.
Is important to remember that not all condensation is bad and there are always things you can do to reduce it. Stopping condensation completely may be entirely impossible as condensation is a completely naturally occurring thing.
Can new windows prevent condensation?
New windows can certainly prevent condensation. With double and triple glazing options these provide great efficiency and ventilation. Some additional benefits of double and triple glazing are that the glass units are filled with argon gas and have a low-emissivity coating. Making the interior surface of the glass warmer and reflecting the heat back into your home, making condensation less likely to occur.
At Supaglazing Online we offer a larger variety of energy efficient window styles to suit every home. Just visit our contact us page or speak to our friendly sales team on 0333 0041100 to find out how we can help.