Winter woes: Window condensation
What’s the deal when the windows inside your home are covered in droplets of water in the winter?
It’s a sign that your house has a condensation issue — and it may need to be addressed.
Condensation happens when warm moist air comes in contact with cooler dry air. It’s directly related to the temperature and humidity indoors, and it’s why your bathroom mirror “steams up” after you take a shower.
Don’t just wipe the windows off and ignore the issue. Over time, water droplets may damage window frames, warp wood, dissolve drywall and encourage the growth of mold.
How can you prevent condensation on the inside of the windows in your home? Here are some things you can try.
* Open the window, even if it’s just a crack, to release the warm moist air trapped in the room.
* Raise the temperature of the windows by closing the blinds or curtains. Or increase the temperature of your house slightly.
* Use your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans every time you cook or shower, and leave them running for about 20 minutes afterward.
* Turn on your ceiling fan in the winter to circulate the air. The fan should rotate in a clockwise direction to push warm air off the ceiling and down to the floor.
* Buy a dehumidifier, a machine that pulls moisture out of the air. Some units come on automatically when the humidity level in your home reaches a certain point.
* Install an air-to-air exchanger, which sends indoor air outside and brings in fresh air.
If condensation problems continue, contact Sam Pollard & Son at 252-752-3661 about an outside air intake for your furnace, venting of gas-burning heaters or installation of ventilation fans. We service Greenville, NC, and the surrounding area.
