Home Improvement: Tips to Prevent Window Condensation

One of the problems of double pane windows is condensation, caused by excessive moisture. Oftentimes, homeowners would tend to blame condensation with either poor installation or defective windows. Although this can be true, it’s not always the case. Window condensation is a symptom caused by moisture imbalance that can be found in our homes.

Here are some tips to help prevent window condensation:

1) Examine your windows: Check for cracks or breaks in the glass seal. Check around the frame and see if there is proper caulking. Most cracks and breaks are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, depending on how old your window is. Damaged caulking around the window, along the sash and frame, can be easily fixed; you can buy a tube of silicone caulking from the home improvement store and apply it yourself. Ask the store clerk for tips and instructions on how to do it if you are not too sure how.

2) Ventilation: If your home is not properly ventilated, this can cause moisture to get trapped. Make sure that you have proper airflow. Check vents (attic and crawl space) to make sure that they are not obstructed in any way. You need to also check on your home’s interior humidity. There are ways to ensure proper ventilation aside from checking the vents, you can also install bath and kitchen fans, you should also install outside vents for your dryer. Check seal around dryer hose and wall vent.

3) Air Circulation: Make sure you have proper air circulation from the outside to the inside of your home. If you have ceiling and portable fans, use them to keep circulate the air. Keep your windows open on warm days, if you have thermal drapes, leave the window treatments open.

4) Insulation: Check attic and basement crawl space for signs of excessive moisture. One tell-tale sign is when the insulation is discolored. Check outside window frame for proper fit and insulation cracks or leaks.

5) Humidifiers: Avoid using humidifiers as much as possible.

6) Air Conditioners: Drain air conditioning condensation to the sewer system or the outdoors, not the crawl space.

7) Fireplace/Firewood: Do not stock up on firewood inside your home, for they release immense amounts of moisture into your home.

8) Indoor Plants: Plants can be a source of air condensation, make sure to limit your house plants or water them at night and leave them outside.

9) Physical Activities: Household activities and chores, like mopping floors, washing dishes, exercising causing increase body sweat can also cause increase in moisture. Make sure when there is increase activities like these to turn on your fans or open windows to balance the air flow.

10) Adjust Thermostat: To eliminate condensation, homeowners either need to raise the temperature of the window surface or reduce the relative humidity in the room. If the condensation occurs that usually means the relative humidity is too high for the temperature conditions.

Hopefully these tips can help prevent future window condensation in your home. Condensation can be costly, especially in worst case scenarios where the only fix is to replace the windows, so knowing what to do and how to save your windows can save you a lot of headache and expenses down the road.