Thursday, December 22, 2011

Window Condensation Issues in Winter

What is Condensation?
Condensation is the fog that is evident on the glass of your window. It is actually the result of high humidity level in your home. It generally appears as moisture or ice on the interior lite of glass on your windows.

What Causes Condensation?
The cause of the condensation is extreme moisture in the air. When warm air meets a cooler surface, it condenses. This creates the visible moisture you see on the surface of your windows. Condensation also occurs when the flow of warm air is restricted from reaching window surfaces.

Problem due to Condensation
Condensation is an unsightly problem. The last thing you want on your window is a fog blocking the view. But the problem goes deeper than-if condensation is a chronic occurrence in your home; chances are that you have excessive humidity. If water is accumulating on other harder to see surfaces such as wall and roof cavities. If left uncontrolled, excess moisture can have serious consequences, including:

* Mold or mildew
* Wood rot and warping
* Roof ice build-up
* Damp, ineffective insulation
* Discolored, blistered or bubbling paint
* Damaging moisture inside walls and attic

Preventing Condensation

* Make sure your humidifier is working correctly. Turn it down as the weather becomes colder.
* Vent all appliances and vent to the outside. Vent attic and crawl spaces.
* Cover the earth in your crawl space with a vapor barrier.
* Run exhaust fan while cooking or bathing.
* Open the fireplace damper to allow an easier escape for moisture. Don't store firewood inside.
* As a temporary solution, you may want to try opening your windows a little each day to allow the exchange of colder drier air with warmer more humid air. This should not affect your energy bill in any substantial manner.
* Install energy efficient windows.

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