Condensation

Find out the facts about condensation (in or on) your windows with our guide on what you need to know.

What is condensation and why does it occur?

Condensation is a result of warm air colliding with a cold surface, especially if there is too much humidity in your home. When the warm moisture in the air hits your inner windows colder surface it cools down, releases the water which forms the droplets on your window. In severe circumstances, the water droplets will merge and run down the windowpane onto the inside sill. Excess moisture in the air of your home can cause condensation to occur on walls and ceilings, not just the window.

Long term exposure to reoccurring condensation can result in damp on your walls and furniture, it can eventually lead to structural damage to your property. It is also unhealthy.

Different seasons of the year can also promote additional levels of condensation such as winter where heating is likely to be higher in the home and the outside elements are colder.

Quick Tips to help reduce condensation

Close kitchen and bathroom doors
Both of these rooms are renowned for promoting condensation. The steam from a hot bath or shower will add moisture to the air. The kitchen while cooking or boiling a kettle also adds moister to the room

Ensure your washing machine and especially your tumble dryer is correctly vented
Many of us have these items installed in a kitchen and while in use they both produce large amounts of water that will add to the moisture in the air of your home. If you can dry clothes outside this will help to reduce the moisture within your home. Use an extractor fan while using these items and don’t turn off the fan as soon as the washer or dryer have finished as there will still be moisture in the air.

Ensure your home has good heating
Good heating in your property will improve the temperature of internal surfaces and help to reduce condensation. Ensure to have double glazing with A-Rated energy efficiency to help retain the heat in your home.

Check your windows
Older windows that have been installed for some time may have damaged broken down sealant around the frame which can allow water to travel into the house and result in excess moisture. This is known as exterior condensation.

Open your windows
Simply opening your windows is a good way to allow warm moist air to escape from your home permitting it’s not too cold outside of course.

Replace your windows
If your windows are too old you may not be able to exchange the glass units alone and the whole window will need replacing. At Centric home improvements we ensure to keep this option affordable for all our customers. We offer a free no-obligation quote and will help guide you in making the right choice. With today’s window technology in window fabrication, you are likely to get added benefits with your new window/s.

I’ve had new windows installed and there is condensation outside?

Condensation is not caused by double glazing however people are often surprised to find external condensation on the outside of newly installed windows and can blame the cause being the new unit installed. In particular during the Autumn and Winter months of the year. With new high energy efficient windows that achieve an A-Rating or above if you find that there is condensation forming on the external pane this is a clear indicator that the window is doing a great job at keeping the cold at bay and the heat from your home inside.

Basically with lower grade windows the ‘cold spot’ of the glazed unit is on the inside of your home. With a newly installed A-Rated window the ‘cold spot’ switches to the outside. Generally, once the outside atmosphere has warmed up the condensation will evaporate away. Furthermore, windows that are North or South facing on the property may be more susceptible to external pane condensation.

All the windows installed by Centric Home Improvements achieve A-Rated energy efficiency. With the demands of the 21st-century customer, we are all looking to achieve the most thermally efficient product. There is nothing to worry about where condensation occurs outside on the window pane.

I have condensation on the inside of my double glazed unit.

There are a number of reasons why this might occur. Windows like anything else will deteriorate over time. The seal around the two panes which creates the ‘sealed unit’ will eventually break down. The allows the moist air to enter between the two glass panes. Once water ‘condensation’ is able to enter the window it will take longer to evaporate and the result is a broken down and failed ‘sealed unit’.

Another reason why moisture can enter the sealed unit is as a result of a broken down or fault with the ‘spare bar’ that hold the two glass panes together. To resolve this issue there are two real options. Repair, a failed sealed unit can be replaced where the uPVC frames are still in good condition. It is important to evaluate the overall problem correctly as a replacement sealed unit may not fully address the issue, if the rubber seals are broken down and the frames are old and of poor build quality the expense of the repair may not be justified v’s replacing the window in full. Replace, of course, this is more expensive than a repair it is generally the better option if affordable.

The result of a replacement will not only offer the better solution but will also provide you with a ten-year guarantee for the window/s and likely offer additional benefits. At Centric Home improvements we offer a full ten-year guarantee with all our new windows and provide no-obligation quotes for free and we will offer the best solution be it a repair or replacement.

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