Over the course of time, condensation forming on cold windows can promote mould, rot, insect pests and cause plaster and home decorations to blister and peel. When it occurs between the panes of glass it is unsightly and suggests your glazing is faulty and no longer doing the job for which it was intended – keeping your home warmer and your fuel bills lower.
Preventing moisture in the air within your home is not a simple thing. The average person exhales almost a pint while sleeping each night. An average family generates several gallons per week even before you consider other sources of moisture like the weather, baths, showers and cooking.
Moisture encourages the mites that cause asthma and hay-fever to multiply.
Better Glazing
The void between panes should never mist up because only vacuum or dry gases should occupy the void. The less effective your double glazing is at insulating your home, the colder will be the inner window surface and the worse the condensation.
There are four good reasons to install the best double glazing you can afford – to keep warmer, reduce heating bills, be environmentally friendly and to minimise condensation. Professionals like Gloucester double glazing firm https://www.firmfix.co.uk/ provide free advice on all these topics.
Other Solutions
Opening windows is often the simplest solution, but in cold weather it’s not the one anyone wants. It’s also an invitation to burglars. Depending on the weather, however, giving your home a regular airing will contribute greatly to avoiding damp.
Fans can help to keep the air circulating. Although you are not removing moisture from the house overall you can use fans to prevent condensation in problem areas. For example, moisture often accumulates in the far corners of the house – perhaps in a cold upstairs bedroom.
Extractor fans should always be fitted in kitchens and bathrooms and extractor hoods over cookers.
Dehumidifiers are very effective and better priced than they used to be. Many are combined with air filters that are a godsend for asthma and hay-fever sufferers. Older ones generate a background noise that is irritating if you’re trying to hear the TV, but the technology is improving so shop around.
The prices and running costs of integrated heating and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) have improved greatly and guarantee safe and comfortable air quality.
Keeping condensation out of the garage
Garages tend to be cold and damp, which makes them one of the worst spots in a home for condensation. As elsewhere, it forms when warm, moist air meets a cold surface, so it is usually worse in winter. Appliances running in the garage add heat and moisture, and any leaks or poor drainage make things worse.
Left alone, the extra moisture can lead to mildew and damp, and in an attached garage that can spread into the rest of the house, causing structural damage and a health risk.
There are simple ways to keep it down. A small electric heater stops the space getting freezing cold, which cuts the amount of condensation formed. Good ventilation keeps air moving, and a dehumidifier does a similar job. Drying the car off after driving in rain or snow helps, as does a good floor coating. None of these are difficult or costly, and they can save money on treating mould later.
Signs a conservatory needs upgrading
Conservatories are especially prone to condensation, and many built in the 1970s and 1980s are no longer up to the job. Moisture forming between the panes means the double glazing has failed. Warmth from the house is likely escaping through the glass, raising bills, and the damp can lead to mould.
A cold conservatory is another warning sign. A well-functioning one should keep draughts out and hold warm air in during winter. If the windows feel cold to the touch, the glazing may need renewing.
Check the roof regularly and clear any build-up of sludge. Over time polycarbonate roof sheets can become weak and brittle, letting water in and causing further damage. If the roof is clearly deteriorating, an upgrade is worth considering, and many owners now replace the old glass box with a design that uses more brick, so it feels like an extension. Proper insulation keeps the room cooler in summer and warmer in winter.