For the most part, a little condensation on your home's windows is nothing to worry about. It's only when you have excessive condensation on the windows, or the condensation is between the window panes that you should be concerned.
The bad news is that the moisture caused by condensation is a breeding ground for mould and mildew that can cause a range of health problems from allergies to infections. Left untreated, condensation can rot wooden window frames and start to cause damage to structural integrity.
So, the water you're seeing isn't unusual. Condensation will appear from time to time on even the best-performing windows—in fact, it's often noticed more on high quality windows, because of their energy efficiency. Everyday living generates a surprising amount of indoor moisture.
Although condensation doesn't signal that you need new replacement windows, it's still possible that you do need some. If you've had your windows for years and you notice that they are a little drafty, then you may want to consider investing in new windows.
Every day an average person breathes in around 14,000 litres of air, and with every breath, we release a small amount of water vapour. Over a day, this builds up to around 400g of water vapour created. People who are active will breathe out more due to higher internal temperatures.
For the most part, a little condensation on your home's windows is nothing to worry about. It's only when you have excessive condensation on the windows, or the condensation is between the window panes that you should be concerned.
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.
To stop condensation on windows at night try keeping your bedroom door open to improve airflow and leaving your curtains open, or swapping for a thinner material. If this doesn't fix the problem, check the seals of the windows (as mentioned above) or consider running a dehumidifier at night to keep moisture at bay.
It is likely you are getting condensation inside your windows because there is too much moisture inside your house and the room's temperature is much warmer than that of the exterior of the panes. The warm air condenses on the cold windows and turns to moisture – condensation.
The appearance of condensation between the panes of glass in your bedroom windows, or in any other windows in your home, indicates that the windows are not doing their job properly. The air-tight seal holding the insulating gas inside has failed, letting all the insulating gas out.
Condensation on the exterior of your windows is a normal process, typically caused by high humidity levels. While this is more common in the summer months because of increased humidity, it can still occur in the winter.
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.
Condensation is most common in winter, but it can occur whenever water vapor in the air comes in contact with a surface temperature lower than the dew point (the temperature at which air becomes saturated and produces dew).
Curtains or internal blinds on windows can increase condensation on the glass by reducing the window surface temperature. This problem can be reduced by leaving the window open a little.
Condensation is the moisture formed when warm, humid air encounters a cold surface. At night, almost all year round, the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures means that condensation is always a possibility.
Condensation can happen anywhere in a property but is often noticed on window glass with a "steamed up" appearance. It is most often caused by poor levels of household insulation as well as inadequate ventilation.
Keep your home at a constant temperature
Keeping your home at an even, low temperature for prolonged periods of time is a good way to ward off condensation. This prevents areas of cold, which is where the condensation is most likely to occur.
Adequate heating
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.
It happens mainly during the colder months, regardless of whether the weather is wet or dry. Condensation is completely normal and is the most common cause of dampness in the home, especially in colder rooms.
The atmospheric temperature must always be consistent to stop condensation. Make sure warm air ventilates out of the home and walls and surfaces are not too cold. Try keeping the heat at a low consistent temperature and avoid drying clothes inside.
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.
Condensation happens when your home is too humid and the warm air hits cold surfaces. This leads to the air cooling quickly and forming droplets on nearby surfaces such as walls/windows.