Winter Window Condensation Problems

If you live in a cold part of the country you are familiar with condensation and ice forming on the inside of windows. This problem is becoming more prevalent with new home construction due in part to the increased insulation and "tightness" of the houses. As the temperatures continue to drop outside I receive lots of inquiries about window condensation.

Condensation and ice form on windows because the window surface is below the dew point for the air near the window, so some of the moisture in the air condenses on the glass. The higher the relative humidity of the air near the window, the higher the temperature of the dew point. Basically there are two ways to prevent this from happening. The first is to reduce the relative humidity in the house and the second is to increase the temperature of the window glass.

Reducing the relative humidity is the most effective way of reducing window condensation. Make sure that exhaust fans are vented properly and in good working condition. Bathrooms, dryer vents and kitchen vents are the biggest culprits for introducing increased humidity inside the home. Proper venting is crucial because today's homes have been insulated so well that there is no way for the additional moisture to escape. To be effective the relative humidity must be dropped to a minimum of 40%.

Increasing the temperature of the window is a bit more challenging. For starters make sure window curtains and blinds are opened during the day to let in sun and also to allow air movement to help dry things out. By opening curtains and blinds you're also allowing the warmer air from the room to warm up the window.

If you take these steps and have good quality windows the condensation and ice should go away. For additional information contact the manufacturer of your windows or check with your local building supply company.

Todd Fratzel, P.E. is a building superintendent for a construction firm in New Hampshire. In addition to supervising the construction of new homes Todd is a registered professional engineer in the New Hampshire and Massachusetts and has an extensive back ground in building structures. For additional articles like this one see his blog at http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com

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