Interior Condensation
You probably don’t really care about the scientific causes of condensation on glass; you just want to get rid of it! In addition to possibly damaging your home and causing surface mold growth it’s not any fun to have to peer through hazy windows just to get a peek at what’s going on outside. Fortunately, there are a number of things that you can do to reduce condensation on your windows.
Interior condensation, or the condensation that occurs on the inside of your windows, is the most common type. When wondering how to prevent condensation, there are a variety of things you can do to remedy the problem.
1. DO NOT USE A HUMIDIFIER
You might notice condensation in your bathroom, kitchen, or nursery. In the nursery this problem is often caused by a humidifier, which many parents use. If you use a humidifier in any part of your home turn it off. As a result, the humidifier will release less moisture into the air, which will hopefully reduce condensation.
2. BUY A DEHUMIDIFIER
Purchasing a dehumidifier is an easy, inexpensive way to remove the moisture in your home. If a full size dehumidifier, which is usually $200 to $300, is too expensive for you, you can also look into purchasing a mini dehumidifier or looking for a used one. A dehumidifier will help effectively manage the humidity in your home.
3. BATHROOM AND KITCHEN FANS
Use your bathroom and kitchen fans every time you cook or shower. Showering and cooking releases a lot of moisture into the air, and sometimes this moisture cannot escape from your house easily. The exhaust fans in your kitchen and your bathroom help remove this moisture from the air. You want to run the fans for about 15 to 20 minutes after you shower or cook. If you do not have a kitchen or bath fan you can open your window for a few minutes to allow the excess humidity to escape.
4. CIRCULATE THE AIR
Circulating the air can also help reduce the condensation on your windows. So, use your ceiling fans even in the winter. You want the fans to rotate in a clockwise direction to push warm air off of the ceiling back down to the floor.
5. OPEN YOUR WINDOWS
If the windows are fogging up in your house, and it isn’t too cold, you can open your windows. This will release some of the warm, moist air that is trapped in the house. Even if it is cold, keeping the windows open for a few minutes can make a big difference.
6. RAISE THE TEMPERATURE
Raising the temperature of the windows will reduce the condensation on them. Condensation occurs when warm air hits a cold surface (the window). Think about taking a cold drink out of your fridge on a warm day. The surface of the can immediately gets wet. In order to raise the temperature of your windows, you can raise the temperature of the house slightly. You can also use blinds, curtains, or drapes to raise the window temperature as well.
7. ADD WEATHER STRIPPING
Adding weather stripping to your windows can help keep warm air from leaving your home. This can help reduce condensation if you’re using storm windows during the winter months. Weather stripping also helps make your home more energy efficient.
8. MOVE YOUR PLANTS
Plants release moisture into the air, so if you have a number of plants by your windows, moving them to a different place can help reduce condensation on the windows.
9. KEEP CURTAINS AND BLINDS OPEN WHEN IT IS DAYTIME
Did you know that leaving your blinds closed all winter can lead to mold and mildew? This happens when condensation forms on the inside of the window glass sits for an extended time leading to wood rot, peeling paint, mold growing and other window hazards. Air will naturally cool near a window, but keeping the flow of air is what will save you from water pooling near your windows. During the daytime keep your curtains and blinds open so air is not trapped near the windows and the sun can warm the windows up.
10. WINDOW INSULATION KITS
Window insulation kits can be installed on the inside or the outside of windows, and they can prevent interior condensation when installed on the inside. When installed on the outside, they can help reduce energy costs, but they do not reduce condensation. Additionally, if you have condensation between an interior window and a storm window, sealing the interior window can help reduce this problem. These kits have the added benefit of reducing your heating and cooling bills.
11. BUY A MOISTURE ELIMINATOR
If you suspect that there is excess moisture in certain areas of your home, you can purchase a moisture eliminating product, such as DampRid. These products often come in buckets that you can set on your floor or in bags that you can hang, typically in your closet. You can use these products in your bathrooms, kitchen, or closets (where they will also help protect your clothing from moisture damage), and they will remove excess moisture from the air.
Exterior Condensation
1. HAVE PATIENCE
As the sun warms up the windows, the condensation will evaporate. Just like the dew evaporates off of your car and your lawn, it will evaporate off your windows as well.