Alleviate condensation on your windows

Affinity R&D Team

We’ve all experienced condensation on our windows at one time or another. But when condensation starts to build up, you may start to worry that it’s a problem.

What causes condensation?

Condensation occurs on your windows when the temperature on one side of the glass differs greatly from the other. The warm air molecules from the warmer side hit the glass, start to cool down, and turn back into water molecules—and condensation starts to form.

It’s a common occurrence in warm, humid spaces such as bathrooms, showers, and kitchens. But it’s also commonly experienced in smaller bedrooms overnight during colder months, with the inside air warming up due to the body heat and regular breathing.

So, is condensation a problem?

Condensation itself isn’t necessarily an issue. It can indicate that your windows have formed an airtight seal, with no air leaking out, locking moisture inside your rooms.

For minimal condensation, all you need to do is wipe it away with a clean, dry cloth.

However, if it builds up, excessive condensation can build up and seep into your walls, causing the paint to blister and crack. If left it can lead to rust forming in your window frames, or can leak down to your floor, causing your skirting boards to warp.

If condensation seeps into your walls, then mould starts to form. You may start to notice an old, musty smell in the room—which gets worse as the bacteria and mould spreads—or dark stains start to form around the base of your windows.

So, when left untreated, yes, condensation can be a problem.

Top 6 way to reduce condensation

1. Open a door or window in humid rooms

For places like the laundry, bathroom, kitchen, or small bedrooms, simply keep a door or window open to let the warm air out.

2. Increase air circulation in your rooms

This is the easiest way to alleviate condensation on your windows. It can be as simple as opening your window a few centimetres, or even opening your blinds, which could be trapping warmth in the space between your blind hangings and the glass. Try turning on a fan, whether it’s a ceiling fan or pedestal fan, to move air around your rooms and towards your windows.

3. Purchase moisture absorbing products

You can find moisture absorbing products in most hardware stores. They’re small packets or boxes filled with moisture-absorbing crystals that suck excess moisture out of the air. But they need to be replaced over time, and regular replacement can be costly. So, consider this one a short-term solution

4. Check your exhaust fans

The exhaust fans in your bathroom, laundry, and kitchen may be old and clogged with dust and dirt. This means they aren’t working as effectively to suck warm air out of your room.

More difficult to spot, though, is to check that your exhaust fans actually vent the air outside. If your exhaust fans simply suck air out of the rooms, but then distributes it into your roof cavity, this can cause condensation and mould issues elsewhere.

5. Install low-e glass alternatives

Low-e glass is engineered with a special coating that lowers the emissivity of glass (hence the name). It reflects away a high amount of radiant energy, meaning less heat passes through your windows, which means that less warmth or cooling is lost through the glass. This can provide better insulation, keeping more even temperatures in your rooms—and therefore reducing the chance of condensation forming on your windows.

6. Install double glazed windows

Double glazed windows aren’t as susceptible to condensation as single pane windows. Built from two panes of glass, double glazing creates a seal between the two panes, trapping air inside, which helps to reduce temperature flow between them. This air gap can also be filled with inert argon gas which reduces heat flow even more.

This two-pane system provides better insulation for the window, as it creates an intermediate temperature between the inside and outside spaces. And as the temperature difference on both sides of the glass aren’t as extreme, this can help to prevent condensation forming.

However, if you try and wipe the condensation away from both sides of the glass, and it still hangs around, then this can indicate moisture is trapped between the panes—and you’ve got a bigger issue. This can indicate a seal failure in your double glazing, in which case, contact Affinity Windows immediately so we can come and assess the issue.

Eliminate condensation for good

At Affinity Windows our goal is to ensure you can live comfortably in your home. So if you’ve tried short-term fixes to alleviate condensation on your windows, and it’s still not working, it’s time to contact Affinity Windows, the Perth windows installation experts.

We can come and take a closer look at your glass, and help you choose the glass and window styles that can create more comfortable, condensation-free spaces for your home.

If you would like further help in choosing window styles for your home, don’t hesitate to contact Affinity Windows, the Perth windows installation experts.