Here’s Why Your Windows Keep Condensing Every Winter

Winter window condensation is one of those home things that gets brushed off as “normal” because it’s so common, and because it doesn’t look like a crisis at first. It’s not apparent like a leak, where other issues need some small maintenance here and there, because it’s just seen as normal. It’s just a little fog, a few droplets, a damp windowsill, nothing crazy or damaging, right? But then it keeps happening, and it’s not always just a little bit either. Some mornings, it looks like the window has been sweating all night. No one took a shower recently, either, so what gives?

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Oh, and then the brain starts doing that thing where it tries to rationalize it, like, okay, it’s cold outside, the heat is on, this is just what windows do. Some of these don't make sense. It’s winter, isn’t it normal in the winter? Cars do this in the winter; surely that means houses do it too, right?

And yeah, sometimes a tiny bit of condensation does happen in winter. But when it’s frequent, heavy, or showing up in the same rooms over and over, it’s worth paying attention, because it can seriously lead to issues that are way more annoying than wiping a windowsill with a paper towel.

Why Does Condensation Even Happen in the First Place?

Well, yeah, that’s honestly a fair enough question here. But condensation is basically warm, moist indoor air meeting a cold surface and turning into water, because physics just seems to work like that. So the windows get cold in winter, especially older windows or windows that aren’t sealed well, so when indoor air hits that cold glass, the moisture in the air has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is your window. That’s basically how it works. 

And it’s not always because something is “wrong” with the window itself either. Sometimes it’s because indoor humidity is higher than people realise, and it’s getting trapped in the house. Plus, winter makes that more likely because windows stay closed, fans don’t get run as much, and the whole home is sealed up like it’s trying to preserve heat, which it is. 

Oh, and you can go ahead and add showers, cooking, laundry, even breathing at night in a closed bedroom, and, well, yeah, there’s a lot of moisture in the air with nowhere to escape.

When Does “Normal” Turn into a Problem?

And of course, this is usually where people get tripped up, because a little fog on a window after a long, hot shower is one thing. But if condensation is a daily thing, if water is pooling on the sill, if curtains feel damp, if the paint around the window starts bubbling, or if there’s a musty smell that shows up in the colder months, that’s when it stops being a harmless winter quirk.

Now, the problem isn’t just the window being wet. The problem is the moisture hanging around. Again, it damaged the wood on the window sill, and just the surrounding of the window too. Plus, repeated moisture in the same areas can also encourage mould growth around frames and corners, especially if airflow is limited. Well, mold is its own giant can of worms. 

But What Factors Make it Worse?

Some homes get more condensation than others, and it’s not always obvious why. Like, bedrooms are common because doors are closed at night, people are breathing for hours, and the air gets humid without fresh airflow. Well, that at least makes sense, and sure, the kitchen and bathrooms are probably obvious too, same for the laundry room. Sometimes there’s just a bad ventilation problem (especially for bathrooms and kitchens), and so if that’s the case, you might want to contact your local heating and cooling company for help with your ventilation system because something could be wrong. 

But another thing people don’t think about is how certain home updates can shift the moisture balance. Well, new windows, new weather stripping, better sealing around doors, those can be great for comfort, but they can also make a household  onto moisture more if ventilation habits don’t adjust. 

What Can You Do?

So, getting an HVAC company to help can actually be one really helpful thing you can consider. But outside of that, there’s a few other things. So the first step is lowering indoor humidity and improving airflow, because that’s what reduces how much moisture is hitting the windows. Maybe turning on the fans in the bathroom after a shower, buying a dehumidifier can help too, or using the range hood while cooking, sometimes, even just opening a window for a bit helps (a lot of Europeans use this for their older houses). 

This is a contributed post.

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