You are probably reading this article because you pulled back the curtains this morning and found the glass of your wooden sash windows covered in a film of fog. Read on to discover how you can fix misty window problems, and steps you can take to stop it from happening again.
What Is the Cause of a
Misted Window?
Condensation causes a window to mist or fog up. In severe cases, water can stream down interior windows in a way that some call “crying windows.” Condensation can form when moisture-laden warm air inside a room hits the cold glass of the window.
What Causes
Condensation?
Moisture collects in the air from many sources, such as cooking, showering, and the kettle boiling. Steam from hot water evaporates into the air and stays there, unseen by the human eye. The breath exhaled by humans and pets during everyday breathing also emits tiny water particles into the atmosphere.
What Are the Consequences
of Condensation?
If moisture remains in the air, it will deposit on the cold surfaces within a home. Air in centrally heated homes has a dew point of around 12 degrees. A house’s cool areas are the windows and exterior walls, where excess water deposits in the form of condensation. If left untreated, black mould will form, paintwork and wall decorations will be damaged, and wooden window surfaces will rot.
Black mould is dangerous for your health if you breathe in the spores. It can trigger allergies and cause respiratory problems. Use a mould removal spray, such as Cillit Bang black mould remover, to remove black mould deposits in your home as soon as you notice them. This spray will remove the mould preventing it from returning and do a much better job than bleach.
The Three Key Principles to
Prevent Condensation
Preventing condensation from forming in your home is preferable to treating its aftereffects. There are three key principles to preventing condensation from appearing on your wooden sash windows and throughout your house. These are ventilation, moisture removal, and raising the window glass temperature.
How Do You Ventilate a Property?
Good ventilation is the most important factor to prevent condensation forming on your windows and walls. In the battle to keep heat in and improve the energy efficiency of a property, homeowners overzealously draft proof their homes and seal up all gaps where cold air might get in. While draft-proofing your home may keep you warm and snug, it reduces the amount of airflow within your house and leads to a build-up of condensation.
A simple and effective way to ventilate your house is by opening your doors or windows each morning to allow damp air to escape and dry air to come in. Also, ensure you do the same after bathing or showering to clear steamy windows and mirrors in the bathroom.
For bad cases of condensation, keeping your sash window open a tiny amount at all times will allow fresh air to circulate into the room. If your window is on the ground floor, installing a vent lock or sash stop permits the window to be left open while remaining safe from intruders.
All properties have air bricks built into the walls to allow sufficient airflow to keep them free from condensation. Even Victorian-era homes should have air bricks installed in the walls. For the air bricks to function, they must be clear of debris or blockages. So, remember to check them regularly.
How to Remove Moisture from the Air Within Your Home
The second key principle in the battle against condensation is removing the moisture from the air in your house.
Before considering mechanical aids to remove humid air, try not to add to the problem. Do not dry your washing indoors. Removing all the moisture in your laundry inside the house will exacerbate your condensation problem. Hang it outside to dry or use a tumble dryer with a hose vented to the outside.
Fit and use an extractor fan in the bathroom, and ensure you use it every time you shower or bathe. You will find it beneficial to turn it on when pouring hot water into the basin for shaving or washing. Also, install an extractor fan in the kitchen above the hob to remove steam caused by cooking.
If you do all the above and still have condensation problems, then try purchasing a dehumidifier. They can be purchased relatively cheaply. A dehumidifier will pull the moisture out of the air and prevent it from being deposited on your windows or exterior walls.
How to Raise the Temperature of the Window Glass
The third key principle in the battle against condensation is raising the temperature of the window glass. Windows with single-thickness glass panes are not good at retaining heat. Fitting double glazing will raise the temperature of the window glass in much the same way that wall insulation raises the temperature of an exterior wall.
What is Double Glazing?
Double glazing is formed from two sheets of glass with a gap left in the middle. Argon gas fills the gap between the panes of glass. Argon gas is a poor conductor of heat, which along with a coating on the inside panel of the window glass, gives double-glazed windows their thermal and noise-reducing properties.
What are the Benefits of
Double Glazing?
Double glazing has more benefits for a home than just preventing condensation. It will help insulate it and prevent heat loss through the window glass. Double glazing also makes your home more energy efficient by keeping it warmer. Double glazing will reduce your carbon footprint and save you money on heating costs. Double glazing will also help to soundproof a room from exterior noise and make it more secure, as it is much harder to break than a single pane of glass.
Fitting New Double-
Glazed Sash Windows
We can supply and fit new wooden double-glazed sash windows that exceed modern regulatory requirements, while at the same time retaining all the desired period features and charm.
We can bespoke-design new wooden sash windows in any size, shape, or style while retaining the period moulding designs and horn details.
We can fit new wooden sash windows into existing old frames, so there is no need to disturb or destroy the historic fabric of a building.
Our wooden sash window frames are made with Sapele wood. Sapele is a sustainable hardwood, cheaper and harder than mahogany, and 10% stronger than English oak. Each new window is spray painted in our factory with a five-stage finish and comes with a 10-year guarantee against defects. The window frames have a twenty-year guarantee but will last much longer if properly maintained.
Contact us here to discover more about our bespoke window design and fitting service.
Do I need to Replace My
Sash Windows to Have
Them Double Glazed?
An alternative to replacing your wooden sash windows that are in good, sound condition is to have them fitted with secondary double glazing. This is a more cost-effective option that will save you money and may be the only option available if you live in a listed building or commercial premises.
Secondary double glazing is fitted to the inside of your existing sash windows with minimum disruption. The slimline aluminium profiles of the secondary double-glazing panels are barely noticeable. They will reduce heat loss by 65% and acoustic noise by 80%, which far exceeds the efficiency of traditional double glazing.
To find out more about our secondary double-glazing panels, contact us here.