Replace Your Windows & Say Goodbye to Condensation?

What is condensation?

Condensation is the formation of water from water vapour. It takes place when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface. Condensation can only occur on a cold surface.

Why do we get condensation?

Dependent on the temperature, the air we breathe holds water vapour. Upon contact with a cold surface, the moisture-laden air turns into droplets of water and collects on the cold surface and this is called condensation.

Does every home experience condensation?

Yes, every home will experience condensation at some time – usually when lots of steam is being produced, for example, at bath and shower times, when washing and drying clothes and whilst cooking meals.
It is also quite normal to find your bedroom windows misted up in the morning after a cold night.

Should I be concerned about condensation?

If your home is never free from condensation, then you may need to consider if the dampness has an underlying cause. For instance, leaking pipes or roof or rising damp.

Leaks often result in damp patches coming through the plaster and wallpaper in close proximity to the leak. Rising damp is evident by a “tidemark” forming low down on the internal walls.

Condensation, however, only forms on cold surfaces, such as windows, cold water pipes and cold walls and you will find that is at its worst during the cold months.

There are ways to help to solve the problem of condensation – each one as important as the other.

1.  Produce less water vapour and steam in the first place
2.  Keep the water vapour and steam confined to specific rooms in the house – close kitchen, utility and bathroom doors. Unheated rooms should be also be kept closed.
3. Ventilate – uPVC windows with espagnolette locking can be extremely beneficial in respect of ventilation because they can be locked in the open position – ventilation and security covered.
4. Keep your warm home throughout the day – not just for a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening. This will effectively warm the whole building so that there are no cold surfaces.

uPVC Windows

The ideal solution to the problem of condensation is to replace old wooden windows with replacement uPVC windows incorporating 4-20-4mm sealed double glazing. The energy efficiency of your home will then be improved in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol. However, tips (1) to (4) given above should still be adhered to.

By acting as a heat barrier and providing an inner pane which is considerably closer to room temperature than the outer pane, condensation is reduced. Double glazing cannot cause condensation.

Modern buildings are designed to eliminate draughts and do not have the natural ventilation that some older houses have with their chimneys and ill-fitting doors and windows. Houses which have been completely sealed by the installation of cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, double glazing and draught-proofing throughout are likely to become moisture traps. In such cases, condensation is caused by insufficient ventilation.

Provided the rooms are heated normally, the solution will probably be found by providing controlled ventilation.

In the case of older “unsealed” buildings, the dominant factor is likely to be the indoor temperature. Additional heat or the introduction of localised heat near the windows will probably provide the answer.

Consider this:

A family consisting of Mum and Dad and two children – the Smiths – live as neighbours in a pair of semi-detached houses – to Mum and Dad and two children – the Browns. One family experiences bad condensation and other does not. It has been said that if they swapped homes the family experiencing condensation problems would take their problems with them!