Well, it took its time, but winter has finally arrived. And with it, for some people, the arrival of another unwelcome guest inside the home – condensation.
The occasional spot of condensation isn’t an issue. But if you’re mopping up pools of water from floors and window ledges regularly, it might be that you have an ongoing problem with condensation in your home.
If that’s the case, it’s important to understand what’s causing the problem and what steps you can take to reduce it, before it can do permanent damage.
What causes condensation?
When warm air (which can absorb large amounts of moisture in the form of water vapour) meets a cold object such as a window, its temperature is reduced. If it falls below what is known as its ‘dew point’, some of the absorbed moisture will turn back into water and settle in droplets on the window surface, creating the film we see as condensation
The colder the surface (think single glazed windows in the middle of winter), the warmer the air in your home and the higher the moisture level within it, the worse your condensation problem will be.
One way to combat this unwelcome moisture is by investing in a high-quality air filter for your HVAC system. These filters not only trap dust and allergens but also play a crucial role in regulating indoor humidity levels. By integrating 20x25x2 hvac filters into your heating and cooling system, you not only improve air quality but also take a significant step toward eliminating condensation issues, creating a healthier and more comfortable living environment.
Moreover, keeping windows clean not only enhances transparency but can also minimize the likelihood of condensation by eliminating residues that might contribute to water droplet formation. But this cleaning has to be done properly with the help of professional window cleaners, otherwise, there is a risk of residues from certain cleaning products altering the surface tension of the glass, creating areas where water droplets are more likely to accumulate
So where does all the moisture come from?
Pretty much everything we do in our homes generates some kind of moisture.
In the kitchen, saucepans, kettles and dishwashers all give off steam that is readily absorbed by the air. Bathrooms, of course, are a major source of moisture, as are damp clothes that are left out to dry on radiators during the winter months.
Freestanding heaters increase your home’s moisture content – up to 350cc per hour for a gas heater, and as much 4 litres for every 3.5 litres of fuel burned in a paraffin heater.
Houseplants draw water up through their roots and release it as water vapour from their leaves and our breathing adds yet more moisture to the air around us. Even in our sleep, we produce up to half a litre of moisture per person over the course of an 8 hour night.
Plus, if you live in a new build home, all the moisture absorbed by bricks, plaster and other building materials during construction – up to 7000 litres for an average 3 bedroom house – will be released back into the air as they dry out.
In the past, all that moist air could escape up chimneys, through open windows and around our ill-fitting front doors. But as we’ve made our houses more comfortable and energy efficient, we’ve sealed the gaps that allow air to circulate, increasing moisture levels inside the home and creating the perfect conditions for condensation to develop.
How to control condensation?
The process of controlling condensation in your home primarily involves two straightforward measures. The first step is to improve ventilation, and the second is to ensure proper heating.
A house should have good ventilation systems, including windows, strategically placed air vents, and efficient extractor fans, similar to those available at platforms like Finlay Brewer. These features can help disperse moisture-laden indoor air and replace it with drier outside air (which is usually drier than indoor air for most of the year).
Coupled with good ventilation, maintaining a constant low-level background heat is crucial too. This helps prevent rapid environmental changes and slightly warms wall surfaces over time, reducing the risk of
Additionally, it’s important to understand that dry air is cheaper to heat than damp air. To further reduce water vapor, avoid drying clothes on or near radiators, and ensure your tumble dryer is either vented to the outside or is a condensing machine.
The effects of condensation on your home and family
Condensation isn’t simply the inconvenience of ‘steamy windows’. The presence of excessive moisture can cause lasting damage to window frames. The best way to fix this might be to seek professional help from companies like Charlotte Window Replacement (https://www.charlottewindowreplacement.net/). In fact, it’s not just windows that can be damaged by excessive moisture, but also curtains, wallpapers, and furniture.
It can even be a risk to your family’s health. Damp and moisture encourage mould to accumulate in your crawl space and ducts. Of course, this can be avoided by those who regularly hire professional air quality services, the likes of which could be found by searching ‘duct cleaning near me‘ or something of the like on the internet. The consequence of neglecting these moisture problems can result in mould spores in the air, which in some cases, lead to serious illness, particularly among children with respiratory problems such as asthma and those with a weakened immune system.
So if you find yourself with a condensation problem, it’s important you take steps to tackle it. Keeping your home properly heated and opening windows for at least part of the day to let moist air escape can make a big difference, but if condensation persists, you can find further advice on dealing with it on the Eurocell website at http://www.eurocell.co.uk/homeowners/windows/how-tostop-condensation