Many factors can cause interior window condensation, from a broken seal to excessive interior moisture. Sometimes it takes a bit of troubleshooting to see what works and what doesn’t to solve the problem.
As an apartment or HOA manager, you know window condensation is unsightly and detracts from the appearance of your property. Plus, residents can’t see properly out of foggy windows, so this is an issue that should be addressed quickly. But in addition to compromising views and looking unattractive, condensation in windows can actually damage the property.
Let’s go over some possible causes of interior window condensation.
Common Origins
There are many ways in which condensation can form on the inside and outside of your windows. Here are the most common:
- For interior condensation, the culprit is likely excessive moisture in the house or condo. You’ll see this happen often in the winter when the warm air inside the home condenses as it comes into contact with cold windows.
- For exterior condensation, the culprit is likely dew that builds up when the window is cooler than the dew point. This is most noticeable in the early morning and late at night.
- For condensation between the panes, a broken or failed seal is likely to blame. Another potential cause is that the absorbent desiccant is saturated.
You can take steps to eradicate the condensation in some cases, except when the condensation occurs between the two panes. A broken seal usually requires that the pane of glass or the window be replaced. If your windows are on the older side, you’re better off just getting a window replacement.
There’s really nothing you can do about exterior condensation because you can’t control Mother Nature (aside from spraying a water repellent on the glass), but there is something you can do about interior condensation. This is important to address, as accumulating moisture can damage plaster, rot your wood molding, and lead to mold growth.
How to Remediate Interior Condensation
There are a few things you can do to address the interior window condensation problem. You can:
- Turn down or off any humidifiers in the home
- Buy a dehumidifier
- Use bathroom and kitchen fans when you take a shower or cook
- Use ceiling and window fans to circulate the air
- Open the windows
- Raise the temperature inside the home
- Add weather stripping
- Use storm windows
Lowering the Humidity
The best way to curb condensation on the inside is to lower the home’s humidity level. In addition to using a de-humidifier, you can:
- Open the curtains or drapes to prevent the trapping of heat against the pane.
- Circulate the air with ceiling fans. Switch them to the clockwise direction, which allows the fan to draw warm air from the ceiling down.
- Shut off or turn down the humidifier until you can lower the relative humidity.
- Make sure bathrooms and kitchens are well-ventilated, as they are the most common rooms of the home to build up moisture. When cooking and showering, run the exhaust fans.
- Regularly clean out clothes dryer vents.
- Store firewood outside, as wood and plants add moisture to indoor air.
Contact Allstar Construction and Maintenance for Your Window Replacement Project
If your windows are plagued by condensation and the seal has been broken, contact us today at (952) 234-9995 for replacement window installation. Our HOA contractors in the Twin Cities will work with your HOA to install the highest quality windows possible to avoid this in the future.