Window Condensation Part 2 : Interior Surface of Glazing

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Paddy's DIY – Window Condensation Part 2 : Interior surface of glazing

Another great video brought to you by Paddy's DIY

This video is the 2nd of three, about three types of condensation that forms on windows and doors.

In this video I’m going to be talking about condensation that forms on the Interior surface of the windows and glazing. This is a general overview, every home will have it's own different combination of causes of condensation. Also i'm going to try and explain it in a jargon free way So everyone can understand.

Condensation that forms on the interior surface of the glazing is a for the most part a seasonal problem. During the winter months the difference in temperature from the cold outside and warm inside gives rise to this problem. The colder it is outside the more likely it will form.

Why does it form on the windows and glass?

Condensation forms when humid air comes in contact with a cold surface. The coldest surface in your home is more than likely going to be the glazing of your windows and doors.
Glass is a poor thermal insulator compared to other building elements in your home like the walls.
In the majority of cases whether you have single, double or triple glazing, the glazing will always loose more heat when compared to the other building elements of your home.

The insulation of your glazing will have a great effect on the formation of condensation. The lower the heat loss the less amount of condensation forms. Single glazed windows and doors will have extremely high levels of condensation, as they will have a very high heat loss. Energy rated Double and Triple glazed windows and doors will have the least formation of condensation as they will have the lowest U-Value.

That's not to say that changing your windows and doors to triple glazed will solve the problem. I have seen condensation forming on many triple glazed windows. As low as the u value of triple glazed windows and doors is, compared to the other building elements (walls, floors & roof) it will still have the highest heat loss (and therefore be the coldest surface)

It's best to tackle the source of the humid air.

Where is the humid air coming from?

In short us. Our own respiration, (just breathing in and out) and perspiration are one of the biggest sources. Over a 24 hour period the average adult will produce the equivalent of 1 to 2 litres of water vapor. Steam from cooking, showers, boiling kettles. Drying clothes. House plants. Gas room heaters are all sources of moist warm air.

Rooms where you will notice condensation forming : bedrooms first thing in the morning, bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms. Essentially, anywhere there is a source of moisture.

What will happen if i don't do anything?
Mould forms in damp conditions, and the condensation around windows is ideal for mould growth. Mould can destroy blinds and curtains. It can also cause wooden windows and window boards to rot.

I have condensation / mould forming on plaster around my window frames?

It is very common to see mold forming on the plaster around window frames. This is usually a sign that the space behind the plaster is uninsulated and therefore cold enough for condensation to form.

How can i stop condensation forming?

The first thing to do is increase the amount of ventilation. Essentially you want to remove the humid air from the house to the outside. Try to open the windows in every room in the house for short periods through the day if possible. About 10mins. It's important to ventilate the whole house, other wise the humid air will travel from one room in the house to another instead of outside.

Saying that, this is the last thing people like to do in the winter time, as they are spending money trying to heat their homes.

Another option is trickle ventilation. It's possible to retro fit trickle vents into some windows. And can really help with the formation of condensation. The trickle vents are controllable, and can be opened and closed. Check out my video on how to retro fit trickle vents into uPVC windows

Try to dry clothes outside. I know this is easier said than done in the winter, but it will help.

When showering and cooking make sure you have the extractor fans running, and let them keep running for bout 10 or 15 mins after your finished. If you don't have extractor fans (and even if you do) open the windows to let the moist air escape.
So that’s it for the second video in this series. If you have any questions leave them in the comments below. Please give a thumbs up and hit that subscribe button. The next video in the series will be about condensation that forms between the two panes of glass in double glazing.

Видео Window Condensation Part 2 : Interior Surface of Glazing канала Paddy's Diy