How Do You Stop Window Condensation?
Accumulation of condensed water on your windows and doors is a result of excess moisture (usually within your home) and temperature imbalance between the exterior and interior of your window. This is why window condensation tends to occur at times of extreme temperatures, during the winter and summer months. Sweaty windows as they are often referred to, can also be caused by rising steam from your bathroom or kitchen and at times can also be an indicator of more serious problems like inefficient HVAC system, leaks in your window seals and poor ventilation in your home.
Below are four ways that can help you stop window condensation in your home.
1. Increase Air Circulation
Poor ventilation is a major cause of window condensation in homes. Tightly sealed or closed windows and doors prevent cross ventilation and can quickly lead to moisture buildup on your window. Most new homes are built to be energy efficient. This means properly insulated windows and doors to keep the temperature inside the home more stable. Even though this is a great way to reduce energy consumption and keep a steady temperature in your home, this also causes more air to be trapped within the house leading to sweaty windows. Opening windows and doors every now and then to allow for air to exchange from in your home and the outside will help prevent window condensation. In the case of bathrooms and kitchen, turning on the exhaust fan while cooking or taking a shower will allow steam to escape.
2. Replace Single Pane Windows
If your home has single-paned window, you are very likely to experience window condensation due to poor insulation. Window condensation problem aside, single-paned windows are very energy inefficient which in turn reduces the efficiency of your HVAC system and causes an increase your energy bills. Excess moisture produced from window condensation can cause mold growth on window casing, as well as disfiguration of surrounding walls and floors. The only way to prevent window condensation on single paned windows is to replace them with multi-paned windows (double or triple).
3. HVAC Maintenance
When your HVAC system is working at optimum efficiency, it helps stabilize the temperature in your home ultimately reduces window condensation. It is important to ensure your HVAC system is in great working condition before resolving to tackle other probable causes of window condensation in your home. Scheduling regular maintenance operation for your HVAC system is a good way to keep your heating system in great working condition, which in turn potentially reduces window condensation in your home.
4. Look to An Expert
Sometimes you just have to let the experts do their job. Inviting an expert to examine your windows and doors for possible causes of condensation is a great way to go about tackling the problem. Windows in your home may be poorly insulated or even may have broken seals. A professional windows and doors expert will be able to pinpoint the issue and provide a solution that will provide lasting results.
5 Ways To Fix Drafty Windows
At some point or another almost everyone has walked by a closed window and noticed a drastic temperature change, this universal experience is hard to avoid. There are a couple ways a draft can occur around your windows and doors. The air can find a way to sneak between the frame and your home’s wall material or the draft can make its way between the window sash and the frame of the window itself. Some drafts are barely noticeable and others are hard to ignore.
When it gets so bad that you start reaching for a blanket or your energy bills have noticeably increased, it’s time to act and work on fixing the cause of the draft.
Below is a list of five effective ways you can fix drafts in your window;
1. Window Caulking
Caulking is applied around your window frames to reduce the amount of heat loss and potential drafts. However, as your windows age, the caulking will begin to develop cracks, gaps and may even shrink. All of which will allow heat exchange between your home and the outside environment and provide opportunities for air to work its way in and out of your home. If you notice your caulking is looking very weathered, and there are cracks and gaps, it is time to replace the caulking around your windows. This is a fairly easy process, begin by removing the old caulking using a utility knife and apply a new bead of caulking.
2. Window Film
If you are looking for a fairly inexpensive fix to your drafts in your window, applying window film may be the solution for you. Affordable yet effective, films provide your windows and doors with enough insulation to keep draft at bay. Window films provide insulation capable of retaining up to 55% of your home heat during winter.
3. Shades And Curtains
Heavy duty curtains and shades can also reduce heat transfer from around your windows and block any drafts from creating a drastic temperature change around where your windows are located. Thick curtains can completely cover a window and provide additional insulation, as well in the summer months, these curtains can block out the warm rays of the sun. An additional benefit shades and curtain offer is that they can add to your rooms design and ambiance.
4. Draft Blockers
Draft blockers are known by many names including draft stopper, draft snake and draft pillow. They work by simply placing them around the edge of your windows and doors and they prevent any air from passing through. Different varieties are constructed using a variety of material such as fabrics which are then filled up with sand or dried beans, plastic, foam, silicone and so on. Some are actually fastened to the window or door and others just lay on the frame or ground to prevent air flow.
5. Hire A Window And Door Expert
Sometimes we need professional help to get complicated problems resolved. One of those instances include a bad, drafty window. While most drafty windows can be fixed using DIY procedures, it is advisable to call a window expert when the issue seems beyond a simple repair. A windows and door professional will give you the best advice on what the repair would entail or if a replacement window is your best solution.