Condensation Worries

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Should I be worried about condensation on my windows?

Modern aluminium windows, like our 58BW HI system, are built for energy efficiency.

Condensation on the outside is a good sign—it shows your windows are keeping heat in. This blog explains what different types of condensation mean and how to address them.

Aluminium windows installed today are more energy efficient than ever – thermally broken, insulated frames like those in our Part L compliant 58BW HI system, combined with high performance, low emissivity glass mean they’ve never been better at keeping heat in and keeping cold out.

Condensation on the outside - No

However, one of the consequences of that is that it’s now not unusual to get condensation on the OUTSIDE of your window. That’s actually a very good indicator of your window’s performance. Water droplets will only form on the outside of the glass when it is cooler than the surrounding outside temperature – and, if that is happening, it means the windows are doing a great job of keeping heat in and stopping it from reaching the outside pane.

You’ll probably notice that condensation tends to be concentrated in the middle of the frame and away from the edges where the glass meets the insulated frame, and  it will disappear naturally as soon as the outside temperature increases.

Condensation between the panes – Yes

If you see condensation BETWEEN the panes of glass in your double or triple glazed windows, it means the seal that bonds the sealed glass unit has failed and you’ll need to look at replacing it. You won’t usually need to change the window though, just the glass.

Condensation on the inside – Sometimes

Condensation on the INSIDE  of your windows generally means there is not enough ventilation in your home. All the moisture generated from everyday living – breathing, showering, cooking, heating and drying washing inside has to go somewhere, and it will settle on any cool surface, including the glass in your windows. 

Even the best performing windows can’t eliminate it completely – and it won’t do any harm to the glass or the frame. However, it can cause mould on walls and damage furnishings, so it’s best to do all you can to try to improve your home’s ventilation, without losing excessive amounts of heat and wasting energy.

Probably the best way to do that is by leaving the trickle ventilators open on your windows if you have them. Try to resist the temptation to close these because you might be worried about draughts – they are such a well proven passive ventilation measure that they have recently become a Building Regs requirement on the vast majority of new window and door installations. AluK customers will generally fit trickle vents as standard on our 58BW windows, as well as on our bifolds, sliders and residential doors.

You can also of course open windows when you are cooking or showering, always use extractor fans and cooker hoods and try to avoid drying washing on radiators or even consider the new generation of MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery) units which save energy by extracting heat from stale air and using it to warm incoming fresh air.
 

Condensation