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How to Deal With Window Condensation

If you’ve ever had to deal with window condensation in your home, you know what a headache it can be, especially when it starts to take a toll on your home, your furniture, and even your health.

Condensation takes place when liquid vapour transforms into liquid water. Certain conditions, like an abundance of cold surfaces where moisture can collect, damaged windows, and inadequate ventilation, allow condensation to occur more readily. Condensation is unavoidable – after all, it is a natural, scientific occurrence. Certain activities like breathing, bathing, and cooking can easily cause it. Excess condensation can cause a whole slew of problems that include ruining your furniture, your window sills, and your clothing, and even leading to the growth of dangerous mold in your home.

You may notice you’re constantly wiping moisture off of window sills and windows even with your dehumidifier working over-time. In this case, you’ll likely want to look into long-term solutions for ventilating your house properly, but there are a few short-term fixes you can implement right away to reduce condensation in your home.

1. Always Use Your Extractor Fans When Cooking or Showering

The fans above your stove and in your bathroom serve the important function of removing excess moisture in the air caused by hot water in the atmosphere. Keep your extractor fan running in your bathroom for at least 10-15 minutes after you shower, and keep your kitchen extractor fan running for 10-15 minutes after you finish cooking to remove excess moisture in the air that settles on mirrors, walls, and other cold surfaces. If you don’t have extractor fans in your home, you can wipe these surfaces down by hand.

2. Allow Ventilation Room

Inadequate ventilation is a common cause of condensation, and luckily there are a few quick things you can do to increase ventilation in your home. Make sure there are at least five centimeters between your wall and any furniture that’s up against it. Another quick step is to reduce overcrowding in your closets or cupboards. Leave space between items to allow air to flow more freely and to prevent mold and mildew from accumulating.

3. Keep Your Home Warm

Many of us turn the heat down all the way when no one is home, but during colder months, this is a significant contributor to condensation in the home. A cold home gives the vapour in the air a chance to settle on cold surfaces as it transforms into water. Try keeping your home just a little bit warmer (even when no one is home) which will, in turn, keep the surfaces in your home warmer and prevent moisture from gathering on them.

4. Raising Window Temperature through Window Treatments

Condensation will often occur on windows when shades or draperies are closed because most window treatments separate the cold glass from the warm room air, allowing the glass to further cool below the dew point temperature. When the heating system is in operation, the air temperature will be higher in the vicinity of the window than in the centre of the room, resulting in increased condensation resistance. Interior window accessories such as curtains, blinds and valances must not prevent air from moving around the surface of the window. Any restriction of air movement will increase condensation on the window.

Other Simple Precautions

If condensation has assumed serious proportions and damage to the walls is visible, you need to be more vigilant. Consider removing all internal plants. This is an easy way of limiting water-vapor emission. If you are using air-conditioning systems, ensure the drainage is directed away from your basement or crawlspace. Be sure to regularly check the quality of insulation along the attic and in the crawlspace. If there is defined discoloration along the concrete linings, you need to caulk and seal them to strengthen their insulation against moisture seepage. Turn on the exhaust fan in the bathroom a few minutes before using the facility, if you plan to have a steam bath. Keep the windows open during the daytime to let the sunlight enter the room’s interiors and dry-up the moisture.

If condensation is occurring in your home due to damaged windows, they may need to be replaced. The professionals at Complete Windows can help provide tips to deal with window condensation, and if needed provide suggestions for new windows that works with both your budget and your style. Their highly knowledgeable and certified team of sub-contractors will also install your new windows professionally and thoroughly, with a 5-year workmanship warranty.

Call, contact us, or visit Complete Windows in Parksville today to learn how our high-quality and stylish windows can help reduce condensation in your home.

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