All About Condensation

What is condesation?

Condensation is the process where water vapor in the air turns to liquid on a cold surface. It is the reverse process of evaporation where water turns into steam/vapor. The risk of condensation depends on your home’s climate, how you use your home, and how it is built.

It is important to be mindful of condensation in your home as in the long term, it can cause damage such as rot, mildew, and mold growth. Not only is this a risk to your family’s health, but could turn into costly repair and replacement works.

A common misconception is that the windows are to blame as they are not ‘good enough’, however the windows are just the first place that condensation is noticeable as it’s generally the coldest surface in the room.

How does condensation form?

Condensation forms where warm humid air meets a colder surface (such as your windows and frames), condensing into water droplets and sticking to the surface. It’s the same way your cold drink forms water droplets on a can or glass - this is known as the ‘dew point’.

Activities such as cooking, showering, washing/drying laundry - and even your breathing can add to the airborne moisture in your home.

Energy efficient homes which are very well sealed from the outside are great, however depending on their construction methods/materials, they can also keep the moist air trapped inside. A good balance of airtightness, ventilation and insulation can help to eliminate or reduce the risk of condensation forming.

How can it be minimised?

To help minimize the risk of surface condensation, you should manage and be mindful of the amount of water vapor in your home and the causes. Here are some easy ways to help mitigate condensation forming:

1. Have adequate ventilation

  • Have a window cracked slightly open at night time in bedrooms will allow some of the moisture in the air from breathing to escape.
  • Use of exhaust and extraction fans in bathrooms and the kitchen. These can be connected to light switches for automatic activation for convenience.
  • Consider how close furniture is to walls or windows, airflow circulation around furnishings can help to reduce condensation and mold growth.
  • Open blinds and curtains during the day to ventilate the air trapped from when they are closed.

2. Adjust your heater settings

  • Set heating to a lower but consistent temperature in the background, rather than switching it on/off causing temperatures to fluctuate. ​
  • Consider all areas of your home, don’t forget about low-traffic rooms.

3. Improve laundry drying conditions

  • If you can, dry clothes outside when possible (if it’s sunny!). Hanging laundry inside can release a lot of water vapor into the room, so there will be a much higher risk of condensation - crack a window open in the room where the laundry is drying.
  • Be mindful of adding ventilation when using dryers as they can generate a lot of warm air.

4. Use dehumidifiers

  • Invest in a dehumidifier, these work really well to help efficiently remove water vapor out of the air and avoid excessive condensation.
  • If you only have condensation every now and then, dehumidifiers can be the best and most cost effective short-term solution.
  • Many new reverse-cycle systems have an inbuilt dehumidifier setting!

5. Wipe away condensation when it occurs

  • Wiping it away when you see it won’t stop it forming, but will greatly help in reducing the risk of mold growth.
  • Use a dry cloth to ensure that no moisture is left behind.​This will help save from damage done by water sitting on sills/frames which over time can be costly to fix and can cause other issues.

6. Energy efficient home design/upgrades

  • Your choice of windows and doors will greatly affect the risk of condensation. In cold climates, insulated glazing (double glazing) is a must-have.
  • The choice of framing is also very important,thermally broken framing is a great solution to reducing the effects of thermal bridging.
  • Consider upgrading insulation in your walls/ceiling, this will help to maintain your home’s overall thermal performance.

7. Be mindful

  • Being aware of the causes will help reduce the risks - everything from having lots of indoor plants, to cooking with lids off!

Why is my choice of windows important?

If budgets allow, upgrading old single glazing to double glazing is one of the best long-term solutions for reduction or elimination of condensation.

Double glazing is an ideal must-have in cold climates because of the air gap between the two panes of glass; the external pane will be closer to the outside air temperature, and the inside pane will be closer to your warmer internal temperature. Single glazing doesn’t have this added barrier, and so even if it’s a ‘LowE’ energy efficient glass type, the risk of condensation forming is much higher.

Investing in new windows and doors will help to make your home more energy efficient in the long-term and also help to reduce heating and cooling bills in Summer and Winter.

It is important to remember that even if you have double glazing, or even thermally broken framing, there is still a risk of condensation due to the factors mentioned in this blog. If you notice condensation inside the double glazing, then this means a seal has failed and the pane requires replacement. Standard condensation will always form on the outer surface of the glass.

Get in touch with our friendly team if you have any questions, we're always happy to chat!

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