How to Reduce Condensation on Windows

We’re reaching that time of year when it’s cold outside and the heating gets turned up in your home. It s now that you will start to notice a build up of condensation around your uPVC windows and doors. Read on for some tips to help reduce the condensation on your windows.

What causes condensation?

Most people think condensation on windows is caused by a poor seal but it’s actually quite the opposite.

Okay, so it’s time for a bit of a science lesson! Condensation is caused when warm and damp air lands and sticks on to a cold surface. The glass units in your windows and doors are cold due to the weather outside. On the inside you turn up your heating which causes the air in your home to become warmer. You bring your washing inside to dry on your radiators and this in turn releases excess moisture in to the air. Then, you close your curtains which traps the warm air from the radiators around the area of the window. When the warm damp air lands on your windows, it forms water droplets. I.e, condensation.

All of these things combined add to your condensation problems. Luckily, we have a few tips which can help reduce condensation on your windows!

How to reduce condensation

You can reduce condensation easily in two main ways

• Increase airflow
• Reduce moisture

Firstly, to increase airflow you can install trickle slot vents. This is one of the most effective ways of allowing clean air to flow around your window. It will enable the warm damp air around your window to escape outside and prevent it from sticking to your window. Which will overall reduce the amount of condensation. You can find trickle slot vents on our website here.

An additional way to increase airflow would be to install air bricks into the outside walls of your home. Although this could be seen as a last resort due to the complication and cost.

Of course, you could simply crack open a window. Most windows have a “night latch” function, which allows you to securely maintain a small vent in your window opening.

Next, to reduce moisture in your home, try not to drape curtains over your radiators. If you have long curtains which cover your radiator, this will be trapping warm air against your window. Open the curtains slightly or tuck them behind the radiator.

Another way to reduce moisture would be to not dry as much washing on the radiators inside your home. This creates an incredible amount of moisture which will only add to the problem.

Installing trickle slot vents in your windows and using the tips above to reduce the moisture in your home should drastically reduce the condensation around your windows. What’s even better, they are both so cheap and simple!

Why it’s important to reduce condensation

Reducing condensation is very important. Not only can it cause damage to your windows but it can also cause mould to form. Mould in your home can cause health issues as well as being rather unsightly. If you notice black spots appear on the sealant and paint around your windows, it is likely that you have a slight mould issue on your hands.

You can prevent mould build up by using an anti-mould silicone sealant around the windows in your home. Using this silicone sealant will stop mould in its tracks due to its special properties which prevents mould from forming in the first place.

Clearing condensation

Although these tips may have drastically helped reduce condensation, it’s unlikely to have cured it completely. It’s important that you regularly clear the condensation to stop it developing in to mould. You can do this easily with a towel, tissues, or for windows that open, a squeegee.

Hopefully these few tips will help you reduce the condensation in your home. As always, if you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.