What Causes Condensation on Windows Inside of a House in the Winter?
Condensation tends to accumulate on windows more frequently during the winter months, partially due to cold weather, but there are a number of factors that help facilitate the condensation effect. Does this Spark an idea?
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Warm Air
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When condensation accumulates on a window surface, a lack of air flow provides no energy for the natural evaporation process to take place. Because warmer air can hold more vapor than colder air, when this air meets the cold surface it is transferred to its liquid form.
Older Windows
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When warm air hits older single paned windows, there is no barrier for heat transfer, so the cold glass remains as cold as the temperature outside. The difference in temperature on the interior and exterior of the window is essentially what causes condensation to form on the warm side.
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New Windows
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Sometimes when people have new windows installed, they notice condensation where their previous windows had none. Although new double-paned windows have better condensation resistance, sometimes they react differently. This is usually due to older windows allowing a small bit of airflow leakage even when they're closed.
New Homes
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New homes have a high relative humidity rate. This is due to the concrete foundation going through its drying process, which can take up to two years to fully dry.
Air Flow
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A lack of air flow can aid the humidity rate in your home as well, just as a bathroom will fog up without the fan turned on. Running a dehumidifier can help take some of the moisture out of the air and cut down on the condensation that accumulates.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Anssi Koskinen
