Your questions answered – Condensation

Our customers quite often raise queries with us around problems with their windows / glass, so we thought we would start a bit of an FAQ series of blogs to answer some of the more commonly asked questions.

If there are any particular questions you would like to see answered here, please just drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do!

This week we’re starting with condensation.

We can break this issue down into two parts:

1. Condensation forming in between the two panes of a double glazed window

This first part can be answered and luckily fixed rather quickly. This particular problem is a result of the double glazing unit having failed, meaning you will need to replace the unit with a new, air tight one. There should be no need to replace the frames, simply the failed glass unit within them. Drop us a line and we can arrange a suitable time to get this sorted out for you.

2. Condensation forming on the inside of a single / double glazed window

This issue however, is a little more in depth. Most people assume that condensation on the inside of your windows is an issue of the past, when we had single pane glass throughout, which led to the first job of the day being to wipe down the drips and soaking up the rivers running along the sills!

Unfortunately, simply replacing your windows won’t necessarily fix the problem as condensation isn’t created by the windows themselves, this is just the most common place to find the result of issue at hand.

Condensation is formed when warm moist air – think of the breath we exhale, steam from the shower, clothes drying on the radiators etc. comes into contact with cooler, dry air.

All of this warm, moist air – humidity, needs a route of escape or it will form as condensation when it touches a cooler surface.

So basically the issue of condensation, is one that can only truly be fixed by increasing ventilation. Double and triple glazing can help the issue as it acts as an insulator but it can, sometimes, make the issue worse as it is so effective at cutting out those draughts.

Here are a few ways you can try to help eradicate the issue.

1. If possible, try not to dry wet clothes on the radiator
2. Leave a window open, or at least on vent, in every room effected
3. Use lids when boiling food on the hob rather than letting the steam escape into the air
4. Install Kitchen and bathroom extractor fans
5. If no extractor fan, leave a window open in the bathroom when showering (or as soon as you’ve finished if it’s too cold!)
6. Try to keep showers short – limit the steam and save water!
7. Ensure all air bricks in the building are free of any obstruction and flowing freely

If the issue is a serious one and the above points haven’t eradicated the problem, think about investing in a dehumidifier to help draw the remaining moisture from the air.