How to Prevent Condensation on Windows Inside or Outside

The UK’s cold, wet climate makes it a location that requires careful planning when it comes to building management. One problem is condensation and humidity. Condensation forms when water changes from its gas phase into its liquid phase – and happens primarily because of heat transfer.

During the winter months, condensation on windows can become a very annoying issue for many people – particularly when you consider that it causes a range of potentially severe problems. 

Condensation is not merely a cosmetic issue, there are very real problems that occur due to condensation on windows – including the following:

• Damage to your home: Carpets, plasterboard and masonry walls, timber roofs and many other parts of a home can easily absorb condensation. As a result, you could find that you have developed mould and dampness deep within the structure of the building. Vapour can penetrate even tiny gaps!
• Health issues: Condensation and the resultant damp and mould can lead to a wide range of potentially serious health problems. Young children are particularly susceptible to these effects, with young lungs being much less capable of providing a robust immune response to airborne mould spores.
• Humidity: The UK is a formation of islands so it naturally has a very humid environment in almost every area. Humidity from condensation can easily combine with air humidity to create a very unpleasant environment, which not only makes it difficult to breathe but can also cause rot and damage.

If you remove condensation you can more easily control humidity, and with less humidity in your home – you have a more comfortable environment as well as an easy-to-maintain space indoors. Problems from moist air can damage external walls too, so it is important to remove excess moisture both inside and outside.

We install double-glazed windows, UPVC doors and very thermally efficient conservatories. These help to reduce and prevent condensation, so we are well aware of the problems – and have some top tips to share.

Even if you already have very energy efficient windows, the following tips will help you to get the best performance from them reduce or eliminate condensation issues. As the best way to tackle condensation on windows is to use double or triple-glazed window panes, we recommend doing this first. 

We offer high-quality installations that use the best products on the market. You will get a free quote for new windows in the south coast region of the UK by getting in touch with us.

5 Simple Tips to Prevent and Reduce Condensation on Windows

There are many practical solutions to help prevent, reduce or manage condensation – these include the following:

1. Open a Window When Using a Tumble Dryer

As a tumble dryer is there to dry wet clothes by using heat – a lot of moisture can enter into the air in the form of vapour created by heat transfer. The best thing to do is to give this vapour a place to go, such as the dry air outside.

If you have issues with condensation that arise from using a tumble dryer then you can easily open a window, which should be enough in most cases. 

If you have a dryer that is built into an enclosed cabinet or a windowless room, ensure it is open during and shortly after use so the vapour can fully disperse.

2. Use Extractor Fans in Bathrooms and Kitchens

Whether it is a steamy shower after a long day when the weather is cold or a hot pot of pasta on the boil to warm you up afterwards, condensation sources from the kitchen and bathroom are important to mitigate. Extractor fans are ideal here.

Make sure you use a quality extraction hood above the stove – and turn it on even when you are cooking something that does not seem to produce much steam.

In a bathroom, especially those without windows, open the door after showering and leave the nearest windows in the home open to allow all vapour to escape.

3. Get New Windows with Double or Triple-Glazing

In the colder months, temperature changes from the inside and outside can cause significant heat transfer and make it difficult to maintain the environment you desire. Buying new double-glazed windows can easily make a big difference.

Make sure you choose a reliable supplier who will take care of every stage of the construction process, also look for guarantees on their work – we offer 15 years.

Choose UPVC frames, as opposed to timber, as you will get a lasting, quality result. Timber may look nice but it can rot, which condensation will not help.

4. Try Using a Dehumidifier

Whether you have a tumble dryer in a closed space, a windowless bathroom or you just love steaming salmon and poaching eggs in the kitchen all day – using a simple, low-cost, small dehumidifier can make a big difference to condensation.

A dehumidifier works by warming the air and using a system of coils to take condensation directly out of the air, so they can be incredibly efficient to run.

If you install an extractor fan with a dehumidifier, many units come with both, then even better. Commercial dehumidifiers can easily handle tropical humidity levels.

5. Use a Fan to Circulate the Air

If you have even a small desk fan you can easily move moisture through to drier parts of a room, by moving vapour into dry air you reduce the chances of the humidity level ever getting high enough to start producing condensation at all.

A larger floor fan will work for most small bedrooms, and there are larger, more powerful fans used for commercial environments that will suit even big rooms.

A good tip is to use a timer, the same type you might use for a lamp, to tackle humidity that causes problems only at certain times of the day.