WHAT IS CONDENSATION?
The water that appears in some windows of our houses is produced by condensation.
Condensation is the result of a high level of humidity in the air in a room and is caused by an excess of water vapor in the home.
This high level of humidity turns into water when it comes in contact with a cooler surface.
A very common example is seeing it on foggy mirrors after a hot shower or on kitchen tiles when we are cooking. Condensation occurs first on the windows because they are the coldest surfaces in the entire house as they are in direct contact with the exterior of the home.
WHAT CAN PRODUCE A HIGH LEVEL OF HUMIDITY IN THE HOUSING?
All houses have a certain level of humidity due to domestic activities. Activities such as cooking, washing clothes, cleaning dishes, using the shower, etc.
Other moisture-generating elements can be plants, heating systems, and humidifiers. Seasonal changes, rapid changes in temperature, or home renovations and construction can also temporarily add excess moisture to the air. During construction sites, a lot of water is transferred to the air by building materials such as cement, plaster, etc. After a few days of heat they usually dry out and condensation problems usually disappear.
WHY WERE THERE NOT ALWAYS CONDENSATION PROBLEMS?
Due to its malfunction, in the vast majority of old windows and with old closing systems, air currents are produced that allow moisture to escape through inefficient closures and through the cracks left by rubber gaskets and weatherstripping. .
Nowadays, the new carpentry systems, the modern machinery for the manufacture of windows and the increasingly efficient hardware, allow us to manufacture more airtight windows with a higher energy efficiency, in short, more “adjusted” houses.
This is fine to keep your home comfortable, quiet, and clean, but by closing your home you are also keeping moisture in. In today's homes it is very easy to generate high levels of humidity.
DOES CONDENSATION DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF WINDOW WE HAVE?
Sometimes yes, but this rule is not always met. Windows made of thermally broken aluminum and windows made of PVC typically have less water condensation than windows made of other types of materials. This is because they are materials that are less conductive to temperature.
We say that this is not always the case because the most influential part in a window is the glass, since it is the one with the largest surface area in the windows. The surface of the glass is exactly the same in all types of windows, whatever the material used to make it.
SOME TIPS TO REDUCE HUMIDITY IN YOUR HOME
Always use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. Run your exhaust fans while you're doing moisture-generating tasks, and let them run for a while longer after you're done.
Ventilate your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room while you're using it or right after you're done. Because outdoor air normally contains less water vapor, which will reduce or remove humidity from the indoor air. As we indicated previously, this happens automatically in houses with old windows due to the constant leaks of air from the outside.
Heating your home will reduce humidity as long as it is dry heat.
If the humidity problem continues, consult a professional so they can advise you and solve your problem.
