An issue that not many homeowners consider until the problem has had noticeable repercussions is that of condensation in the conservatory area of a property. This damp, slightly humid and unpleasant issue may not only cause your windows to become fogged or make it too uncomfortable to use your space at various times of the year (unless the windows are opened, which may be too cold to even bear thinking about), but can also cause damage to your property and may have an impact on your health as well.
As specialists in the manufacture, sale and installation of windows, doors and conservatories, our team at South Coast Home Improvements wishes to ensure that customers receive the highest quality products that also guarantee their comfort and will continue to remain in a good condition for many years to come. This is why we have produced a new, expert guide on preventing the build-up of condensation in your conservatory.
Explore our discussion below to find tips on keeping your conservatory moisture-free, or contact us today if you have been searching for a new home installation to call your very own. Our friendly team is always glad to help whenever a customer needs assistance in placing an order.
What Causes Condensation in a Conservatory?
When the temperature falls and the air starts to cool outside (particularly during the winter months, as well as the time leading up to the season), conservatories are more at risk of having condensation start to appear on their windows and roof panels. This is because warm air from the interior of your property carries more water vapour than cold air, but if it comes into contact with a cold surface, such as a pane of glass, the vapour turns into droplets and forms condensation.
Problems with condensation can also form from everyday life in a home, as cooking, cleaning, bathing and washing up are also some of the causes behind increases in water vapour inside a property.
What Problems are Caused by Condensation in a Conservatory?
There are two common problems which can be caused by condensation forming in your conservatory:
- Damage to fabrics and other materials stored in your conservatory, from the frames of your windows to soft furnishings such as rugs and cushions
- Damp and mould growing in your conservatory space, which can lead to a number of different health problems as spores are released into the room
As the causes of condensation increase in the cold, wet autumn and winter months, damp spreading and the growth of mould, as well as the potential for damage, become more likely. However, you can easily prevent these issues from occurring for you and your family, with some expert advice from us.
6 Ways to Prevent or Get Rid of Condensation
Although there is no “best” way to get rid of the problem, there are a number of different methods you can use to reduce or prevent condensation, and some may even stop it from forming in your conservatory entirely.
Below, we discuss the means you may wish to try, if you wish to get rid of moisture and condensation problems in your conservatory.
1. Keeping Your Conservatory Well-Ventilated
We will understand if your next question is “But aren’t conservatories designed to be airtight?”, as you are correct and this is most usually an advantage to a conservatory’s design. If you wish to stop condensation from forming, however, it is important to ensure that the air flows as freely as possible between spaces.
The key to combatting condensation in your conservatory is keeping it well-ventilated. This means ensuring that you do something to reduce the amount of water vapour passing through, and there are several options for this that you may consider doing in your own home:
- Opening a window slightly while leaving the heating on, to keep the air flowing
- Keeping windows and doors open while you cook, clean, or do the washing up
- Using cooker hoods where possible when cooking, and making sure tumble dryers are vented outside
- Ensuring that curtains and window blinds are not trapping moisture against your windows
- Installing trickle vents, which allow a small amount of air in and out of the room even when windows are closed
- Purchasing a dehumidifier for very moist areas, as these draw vapour from the air and stop it from forming condensation
2. Not Hanging Laundry in Your Conservatory
Hanging wet laundry on a clotheshorse in your conservatory may seem a straightforward convenience, as the sun will shine through the windows and roof, directly onto your clothes. Unfortunately, this is more than likely to contribute to the issue, as the moisture from drying fabrics must be released. When this happens in a conservatory, the moisture will simply circulate in the room.
To prevent this, try to hang laundry outside on days which allow for it, or hang the laundry in your bathroom if it is raining, or if the months are heading towards autumn and winter.
3. Avoiding Keeping Too Many Plants
Plants are also major contributors to the issue of condensation in conservatories, so if you reduce the number of plants you keep in your space (perhaps place them throughout your home instead?) the less condensation you should see.
4. Considering Your Conservatory’s Windows and Doors
Having just the right kind of windows or doors fitted in your conservatory may make a difference in the amount of air flow entering the space. For example, tilt and turn windows can open in more than one direction, offering you a greater versatility in air flow. Similarly, bi-fold and tri-fold doors open to almost their entire threshold length, allowing for air to pass through your property and ventilate the room in its entirety.
We take great pride in our selection of uPVC tilt and turn windows and our collection of stunning bifold doors, so if you feel as though redesigning your conservatory space may be the best option for your condensation problem, contact us today. One of our team members will be happy to discuss this with you.
5. Changing Your Conservatory Roof to Polycarbonate
Often, changing out your conservatory roof panels for a material such as polycarbonate can have a significant impact on the amount of condensation entering your conservatory. Polycarbonate roofing is hydroscopic, meaning that it can absorb moisture, and sheets or panels made from the material will have breather tape attached to them so that the moisture is allowed to evaporate out.
6. Ensuring You Have Double Glazing
Having conservatory windows fitted with double (or even triple) glazing will help to reduce the amount of moisture and condensation entering your space considerably, owing to the fact that the exterior pane of glass will act as a heat barrier. This is because the warm air coming from the interior of your home will not be able to meet the cold surface of the outside panel, preventing condensation from forming. As a result, you will be delighted to discover that both double and triple glazing are wonderful methods of preventing the growth of mould, as well as being the most energy-conscious and thermally efficient types of window.
If you choose to install the highest performing double or triple glazing available, you may even notice condensation forming on the outside of your windows, which (while it may come as a surprise) is a certain sign that your windows are performing well.
At South Coast Home Improvements, we guarantee our customers the very best in quality when it comes to our double and triple glazing options. So, if you have been searching for new windows that will help to prevent moisture from forming while keeping in the heat you need to warm up your home, get in touch with us and we can talk with you about what you would like in the way of window styles.
For More Information on the Most Thermally Efficient and Damp Proof Conservatories
If you have been searching for a conservatory which can offer your home all possible protection against the effects of condensation, from damp and mould to costly damage to your most precious belongings, then we are here to help. Consider a new conservatory from us, complete with the finest, most secure and thermally efficient windows and doors (complete with double or triple glazed glass, as you would prefer), and you may soon be bidding farewell to any hints of excess moisture in the space you wish to keep comfortable.
We will be there for you throughout the process, from the moment you give us a call to ask your first question, right up until the moment your installation has been completed. As such, there will never be a bad time for you to contact us if you require any more assistance, and our staff will always be on hand to assist in any way that they can.
