The Bad: Condensation on Inside of Windows If condensation forms on the inside of your windows pay close attention. While interior condensation is usually the result of steam from your shower or stove pots, it can indicate above-average humidity levels in your home. You may have a ventilation problem.
Persistent indoor window condensation can lead to the growth of mold or mildew, which thrive in damp environments and on organic materials, like wood. Think of condensation on your windows as an indicator to reduce the humidity in your home before bigger issues occur.
While condensation on your window glass alone won't harm anything, excess amounts of it can trickle down elsewhere, may cause blistering, cracking or peeling paint on your frames, or even warping and water damage. Eventually, this wear and tear can require you to replace your window frames.
Whilst condensation is a sign your existing windows are working properly, excessive moisture can cause mould to grow around your window frames. However, taking a few important steps can prevent damage and prolong window life, such as: Opening windows for at least 20 minutes a day, but preferably for longer.
However, too much humidity in your home may eventually cause problems. It may be time to take action if you notice the following signs in your house: Condensation remains on windows all day, even when the outside temperature has warmed up. Condensation is forming and running down the walls.
In most cases, internal condensation issues occur because of too much humidity in the room or little to no air circulation. Low internal room temperatures can also create cold surfaces (particularly on windows and exterior walls) which allows warm air to condense onto them easily.
Circulate the Air
Circulating the air can also help reduce the condensation on your windows. So, use your ceiling fans even in the winter. You want the fans to rotate in a clockwise direction to push warm air off of the ceiling back down to the floor.
Interior window condensation is caused by excessive moisture in the house, and it often occurs in the winter when the warm air inside the house condenses on the cold windows. Condensation between windowpanes occurs when the seal between the panes is broken or when the desiccant inside the windows is saturated.
Removing condensation
Make a habit of removing window condensation first thing every morning — when it's at its worst. Use an absorbent paper towel or microfibre cloth to gently scoop and wipe the water off the surface of your windows. Use a fresh towel or a squeegee to dry the pane thoroughly afterwards.
The World Health Organisation guidelines suggest 21 degrees in a living room and 18 degrees in the bedrooms, falling lower at night and when you are out. You don't need to keep your home at these temperatures all the time, but you should aim to bring it up to these temperatures at least some of the day.
Condensation can be viewed as a warning that excessive moisture is present and may cause structural deterioration and the possibility of mold growth. Condensation on the inside of a window is the result of a higher air moisture content contacting lower temperatures on the glass.
Condensation occurs when humid, warm air becomes trapped in your home and then meets a cold surface, like a window. Opening a window allows humid air to escape from your home, thus reducing condensation.
Your bedroom windows have condensation on the inside
This will usually happen if you leave the en-suite door open so the steam travels into your bedroom. This is a natural phenomenon where water vapour turns back into liquid when it comes into contact with something cooler in temperature, like your bedroom windows.
While it's common to think that cold and draughty older properties are more likely to suffer condensation and damp, it is just as common in more modern buildings and in well insulated new builds.
Curtains or internal blinds on windows can increase condensation on the glass by reducing the window surface temperature. This problem can be reduced by leaving the window open a little. Where moisture is produced in large quantities, wallpaper is not recommended.
Add Weather Stripping. Adding weather stripping to your windows can help keep warm air from leaving your home. This can help reduce condensation if you're using storm windows during the winter months. Weather stripping also helps make your home more energy efficient.
Ventilating the home by opening the windows for even just 20 minutes a day can drastically reduce the effects of condensation and dampness in homes. Keeping windows open during activities that cause a lot of moisture in the home such as cooking, showering, and drying clothes can also help minimise condensation.
The most common condensation solutions are based around controlling humidity in your home and improving ventilation. To stop condensation forming on the walls in your bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom, you should: Open your windows to allow air to circulate more freely.
If seeing droplets on windows around the house has left you scratching your head, it's worth knowing exactly what causes condensation. You're most likely to see this common problem in winter. This tells us that condensation is caused by the difference in the air temperature inside your home and the outside environment.
If you wake up and find condensation on your bedroom windows, a great way to clear away the condensation is by mixing a home-made solution. Simply mix two cups of water and two cups of white vinegar, then add a couple of drops of washing up liquid.
Open Your Window
This might seem obvious, but it's effective. Opening your windows will release the humid air outside, and therefore, will prevent the humidity from collecting onto your windows. So, if it's not too cold out and you're suffering from condensation, open a window.