When Should I Worry About Condensation? Although finding condensation on windows is not uncommon, when it forms in certain places it may signify a larger issue. If condensation is found between the layers of glass in your windows, it's a sure sign the airtight seal is broken.
It's only when you have excessive condensation on the windows, or the condensation is between the window panes that you should be concerned.
Damage and health problems posed by condensation
Prolonged exposure to copious levels of indoor dampness can reduce lung function and cause chronic health problems such as asthma. When exposed to mould, those who already suffer from asthma and allergies are more likely to have more severe symptoms.
Rooms like kitchens and bathrooms are optimum environments for condensation, as bathrooms are usually wet, damp and moist. Showering and bathing inevitably cause water droplets to form on walls and windows and if not properly ventilated and dried quickly, linger, and cause excess moisture to form.
In the early morning during summer, you can see condensation appear on the outside of the window. This means that the air temperature outside is humid and warming quickly, but the glass is still cold. This is perfectly normal and will clear quickly as the sun warms the glass.
Condensation between panes may indicate a seal has failed and allowed air to intrude into the space between the panes. If there is condensation between your double-pane windows, consult a professional window installer to examine your windows.
It is most often caused by poor levels of household insulation as well as inadequate ventilation. Thankfully, for those looking to find out how to solve condensation, there are simple steps you can take to ensure window condensation doesn't become a longer-term problem for you.
If the condensation issue is not treated, it may result in peeling paint or plaster. If the walls appear wet and the plaster damaged, then this is likely to be a result of condensation. Arguably the most unpleasant sign of condensation is black mould, sometimes a This may also take the form of black spots on the wall.
The World Health Organisation guidelines suggest 21 degrees in a living room and 18 degrees in the bedrooms, falling lower at night and when you are out. You don't need to keep your home at these temperatures all the time, but you should aim to bring it up to these temperatures at least some of the day.
Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. The warmer it is, the more moisture it can hold. Heating one room, and leaving the others cold, will lead to more condensation forming in the cold rooms.
If seeing droplets on windows around the house has left you scratching your head, it's worth knowing exactly what causes condensation. You're most likely to see this common problem in winter. This tells us that condensation is caused by the difference in the air temperature inside your home and the outside environment.
While condensation itself isn't harmful to us, the mould that it may lead to is also terrible for our skin and lungs. Many respiratory issues can be triggered by mould spores, including asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, as well as worsening cases of eczema and hives, for example.
It's a really common part of living in a property and can be easily resolved and prevented in the future. Because condensation is caused by various different types of activities, there are a few different steps needed in order to prevent it.
Window condensation isn't necessarily a big deal and often doesn't require attention as it generally disappears on its own. But if you're not able to easily wipe the moisture away, you might have a problem to address.
Winter is often the time when you experience damp conditions in your home. Condensation is caused by warm moist air coming into contact with cold surfaces such as windows and walls. It happens mainly during the colder months, regardless of whether the weather is wet or dry.
The main reason that condensation is worse in winter and the colder months of the year is because the amount of heat and moisture present within a home is often far greater than it is during summer, as well as the fact that the temperature outside your property is much cooler.
Adequately heating your home can help to reduce condensation and damp, so keep temperature levels consistent, especially in those rooms that you may not use often. A heating thermostat can be useful for this. Avoid using paraffin heaters as these tend to create excess moisture.
Symptoms and illnesses associated with condensation
More extreme cases have involved black mould which has caused serious respiratory issues and in some cases, fatalities. A significant portion of childhood asthma cases have been linked to condensation, according to the World Health Organization.
One of the best telltale signs of whether you're seeing a leak or condensation is the location of the water. If it's beading on or fogging up the glass, that's almost certainly condensation unless it's coming in from the top. If it's not on the glass but on the seal or the frame, your window is likely leaking.
A dehumidifier works by drawing in the moisture laden air to help reduce condensation and damp problems.
At night sleep with bedroom doors open or ajar
These are perfect conditions for condensation to form. And where condensation regularly forms then mould will follow sure as night follows day. So leaving bedroom doors open or ajar overnight will help air to circulate and reduce condensation.
The obvious places for condensation to occur are on cold walls, wiondows, and floors, but it can also occur in roof spaces and in sub-floor areas where there is a timber suspended floor; in the latter case, it can lead to dry rot or wet rot developing in floor timbers.
Condensation on the inside pane of your window
Cause: In most cases, internal condensation issues occur because of too much humidity in the room or little to no air circulation. Low internal room temperatures can also create cold surfaces (particularly on windows) which allows warm air to condense onto them easily.
Your bedroom windows have condensation on the inside
This will usually happen if you leave the en-suite door open so the steam travels into your bedroom. This is a natural phenomenon where water vapour turns back into liquid when it comes into contact with something cooler in temperature, like your bedroom windows.