Now the colder weather is here, many people are struggling with condensation inside. It can take ages to clear and result in damp and even mould. We have some top tips on why it happens on how to remove condensation from your windows.
Although the winter months bring with them cosy evenings, oversized jumpers and Christmas, they can also bring a negative impact on your home. Those without a tumble dryer, or not using one because of the cost of living crisis, are already having to dry their clothes indoors, which is taking an age.
That already adds a lot of moisture into the air, without condensation being a problem too.
Why Does Window Condensation Happen?
The two main causes of condensation are when warm air collides with a cold surface, or there is too much humidity in your room.
This year more than most people are struggling with window condensation in their homes. This is largely due to people not wanting to put the heating on because of the cost. Unfortunately, cold air cannot hold moisture as well as hot air. So, if your home is colder then it’s much more likely to get condensation.
That being said, if your home is warm but damp (due to washing, showering, sleeping etc) then it will be more humid than the air outside. It kind of sounds like a lose-lose situation, but there are ways to fix the situation. First, establish the reason for the window condensation — is your home cold, or warm?
How To Remove Condensation
Removing Condensation From A Warm House
If your house is warm but you are struggling with condensation, then your fix is super easy. Close the doors to the affected room and open the window for an hour or so. Obviously, you’ll want to turn the radiator off in that room whilst you do so, and closing the door means the cold air doesn’t make its way into the rest of the house.
Opening the windows means that the warm damp air will be replaced with the colder, relatively less humid air that is outside. Yes, it will make your room cold but it should soon warm up again once you’ve closed the window. It’s absolutely free and doesn’t require any faff.
Removing Condensation From A Cold House
If your house is cold, then it’s not quite as easy but it’s still not much trouble. It’s just more likely you will have to make a couple of purchases. A condensation trap can be bought in packs of four or five, or individually from lots of homeware stores. They’re really cheap and don’t require a lot of maintenance. Just plonk one or two on by the troublesome window, and the container will gradually fill with water as it takes moisture from the air.
If your problem is a bit bigger than that, then you may want to invest in a dehumidifier. Depending on how powerful you want it to be, these can cost upwards of £150. However, you can get most of them for around £40/£50. Lots of them also run to cost as they need to be plugged in, but it’s not too much compared to other items. If you want a real fix for your problem and are willing to spend a little more, then a humidifier is for you.
That being said, you can just as easily remove the window condensation with a tea towel or a squeegee. A great purchase is a window vacuum which sucks all the condensation off your window in seconds. It even holds it in a container. We still recommend opening the windows so any leftover condensation falls outside and not on your window sill. However, it’s a lot handier than mopping up after a squeegee. Plus, these are a lot cheaper than a dehumidifier, costing between £15 and £20.
Condensation is just one of those things that happens in winter. But you don’t have to break the bank to solve it, or consistently have your heating up.
