Condensation on your windows

Luckily, interior and exterior window condensation is not a sign of a faulty window, and there are many ways you can reduce the condensation in your home. Because glass surfaces are usually some of the coldest parts of your home, condensation appears on windows first. This is generally in the form of water droplets or frost on the interior of your window.

As interior air becomes drier or as the glass surface becomes warmer, condensation begins to evaporate. Condensation on the interior of windows and doors occurs when warm air comes into contact with cool glass.

This is especially common in colder months, when indoor air is warmer and more humid and outdoor air tends to be cold and dry. Replacing drafty windows and doors or installing a new roof or siding reduces air infiltration into your home, making a tighter seal. This tighter seal is great news for your energy costs, but a tightly-sealed home also retains more humidity, which means condensation on colder surfaces in the home may occur more frequently after these improvements.

Persistent indoor window condensation can lead to the growth of mold or mildew, which thrive in damp environments and organic materials, like wood. Think of condensation on your windows as an indicator to reduce the humidity in your home before bigger issues occur.

There are a number of ways you can cut down on the humidity you create in your home. Some ways to reduce air moisture include using a portable dehumidifier or installing a whole-home dehumidifier. The same goes for bathroom fans.

Leaving the bathroom fan on during and after a shower will help circulate humid air out of your home. Exterior condensation generally occurs in the summer months when exterior humidity levels are higher. Exterior window condensation forms in the same way as roomside condensation when the temperature of the glass is cooled and comes into contact with that warm, humid air. Exterior window condensation is not a reason to worry. Dew occurs naturally when the air becomes completely saturated with water.

There are three main conditions that cause exterior window condensation: high outdoor humidity, little or no wind, and a clear night sky. Homeowners are more likely to see exterior window condensation early in the morning after a cool night. As the sun shines and begins to warm up the glass, the dew on the outside of your windows will evaporate.

To combat exterior condensation, open window coverings at night to warm up exterior glass. You can also trim shrubbery near windows or doors as this will help promote air circulation. Raising the temperature setting on your air conditioner may also help keep your window glass at a warmer temperature. If you think it might be time to replace or upgrade the windows in your home, contact your local Pella representative to schedule a free, in-home consultation to discuss the solutions that might be right for you.

Pella products are backed by some of the strongest warranties in the business. Subscribe for updates on Pella innovations, products and offers. Skip to Content. Windows by Type Casement Buy Learn. This is because plants produce moisture, so keeping them inside can exacerbate condensation issues.

If you have a sun room that stays dry, you can also keep your plants there. Line dry clothes outside.

If you must line dry your clothes, take them outside to prevent water from evaporating off the clothes and adding excess moisture to the air inside. If you must line dry clothes inside, keep them in a well-ventilated room, and open a door or window. Close doors when bathing and cooking. When you shower or bathe, close the door to the bathroom to keep steam and moisture from escaping into the rest of the house.

When cooking, close doors to the kitchen to keep moisture contained. When you are cooking or bathing in a closed off room, open windows to help remove the moisture. Use lids when cooking. Another great way to contain moisture when you're cooking is to use lids that will keep liquids inside the pans and pots. This is especially important when you're steaming and boiling food. When you do remove the lid from your dishes, do so in front of an open window, and make sure the exhaust vent is running.

Turn off any humidifiers. Humidifiers are designed to add more moisture to the air in your house, so they will cause more condensation to form on your windows. When you're experiencing moisture problems, turn off all the humidifiers in your house, including ones that are attached to the furnace.

Use a dehumidifier. On the other hand, dehumidifiers are designed to remove moisture from the air, so these are ideal devices if your home is prone to condensation. You can either install a whole-home dehumidifier, or invest in a portable one that you can move around the house.

Part 2. Keep your house at the right temperature. Managing the temperature inside your house is an important part of controlling condensation. Condensation can only form if there's a cold surface where the moisture can pool, so keeping windows and walls warm is essential.

During the cooler months, use your furnace to increase the temperature, especially if humidity levels start to get too high. If the humidity levels start to exceed 50 percent, take steps to lower the humidity and increase the temperature until the humidity drops below 50 percent. Install weather stripping. This will prevent cold air from blowing in from outside and cooling walls and windows. Not only will weather stripping save you money on energy bills, but it will also stop condensation.

You might also want to install a storm window, especially if your windows are made of a single pane of glass. That will create a barrier between the outside of your house and the inside, which will help lessen moisture on the window. Seal cracks around windows and doors. Cracks and openings are another place where cold air can steal into your house. Around doors and windows, you can seal these with caulk to prevent walls and windows from cooling.

After you apply the bead, smooth it down with a small knife or your finger to press the caulk into the hole. Install a heat recovery ventilator. This is a heat exchanger with a built-in ventilation fan. These devices are expensive a couple thousand dollars , but they will help reduce your energy costs by preventing energy loss. And because this device will increase the temperature of your house, it will help you fight condensation.

Install storm windows. Another way to prevent condensation is to stop the windows from getting cold, and you can do this by installing storm windows, or by replacing older single-pane windows with double or triple glazing. Part 3. Open doors and windows. The final piece of the puzzle when it comes to reducing humidity in your home is improving ventilation and circulation.

The easiest and cheapest way to improve the ventilation in your home is to open doors and windows when the weather permits. Open the drapes. Opening drapes and curtains will allow air to circulate against the windows, and this will dry out moisture on the windows and stop condensation from forming.

Use fans to move air around. Stand-up, oscillating, and ceiling fans are all great for circulating the air in your home.

In summer, ceiling fans should rotate in a counterclockwise direction. In winter, switch the fans so they rotate in a clockwise direction, and circulate heat more efficiently. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency Go to source.

Condensation on Windows in Winter During winter months in Utah, we turn up the heat to warm the inside of our homes. Condensation on Windows in Summer Condensation is not exclusively a winter-time effect. Condensation on Windows at Different Times of Day In cold months, you may have noticed that condensation is more noticeable in the early mornings or after sunset or late at night. Condensation happens if the windows are sufficiently energy-efficient to prevent: The free transfer of outdoor heat or cold into your home.

The free transfer escape of indoor heating and cooling to the outdoors. Other Causes of Condensation on Windows Condensation in hot or cold months is a good indicator that your new energy-efficient replacement windows are performing well to help make your home comfortable in summer and winter.

How to Get Rid of Condensation on Windows Because, as explained, condensation is a natural response to the successful blocking of hot and cold air transfer between the interior and exterior of your home, occasional condensation is to be expected.

Call Advanced Window Products, Salt Lake City, UT at , or contact us online to schedule an appointment for a free no-obligation in-home window design consultation and estimate. What are you Interested in? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Melody Breeze. Colby Jackson. Marc McCorkle. Angela Green.

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