Winter in Connecticut is beautiful, but it can take a toll on your home. One of the pesky results of it being toasty warm inside your home and bitter cold on the outside is the build-up of condensation on the inside of your windows. If you see condensation between the panes of glass in your windows – that’s a different problem altogether, as the seal is probably broken, and it’s time for a replacement.
Why condensation on your windows is bad for your home
Beyond being annoying, condensation on your windows can also be harmful. It can cause rot on wooden frames and sills, damaging plaster and drywall and even ruin flooring and carpeting in your home. Perhaps the most concerning is mold. Moisture is a breeding ground for black mold, which can be extremely toxic and a health hazard. The bottom line is, condensation on the interior of your windows can set off a chain reaction for many things – so it’s important to catch it early, or better yet prevent it from happening.
How to prevent condensation
- Turn down the humidifiers Many New Englanders use humidifiers in the winter months to counteract the dry air brought on by the heat coming from our furnaces and fireplaces. If you begin to notice condensation on your windows – there may be too much liquid in the air. Adjust your humidifiers down to see if that solves the issue. You can also try utilizing a moisture eliminator – often used in basements.
- Utilize fans in bathrooms. It seems obvious, but simply turning on the fans when the shower is in use will help remove a lot of the moisture from the air.
- Move that air around. We don’t often think of using our ceiling fans in winter – but they work like a charm to circulate the air!
- Warm your windows. Although we don’t want to live in a cave all winter – but utilizing insulating curtains and shades will help shield your window from the warm air and it will have the added benefit of keeping the cool air out of your home. Your windows are no different than a glass of ice cold lemonade in the summer that is sitting on a table in 90 degree weather – they will “sweat”. Keeping your windows warmer will help!
- Use insulation. If the curtains aren’t working – you can always cover your windows with the plastic insulating wrap. Not the prettiest and it won’t allow you to open the windows on a nice day – but it will work to keep the cold out and the warm away from the glass.
- Weather stripping to the rescue! Weather stripping not only makes your home more energy efficient by keeping the drafts out – it will also help reduce the condensation if you are using storm windows that offer another layer of protection.
- Turn up the heat. Although this may sound counterproductive – the heat from your furnace is often dry unless you have a humidifier attached to it. Turning up the heat a few degrees typically will pull out some moisture from the air.
- Try moving your plants around. Plants are a wonderful addition to your home and have many health benefits, but they also release moisture into the air! Moving them away from windows will help not only protect them from cold drafts but also help your windows from extra moisture.
- Dehumidifiers. Usually meant for those dog days of summer, using a dehumidifier to eliminate a moisture problem may be the answer! If you see a buildup of moisture and some other suggestions aren’t working, it’s time to dig your dehumidifier out of storage. Let it run for a day and see if it clears up the problem!
We hope these tips help keep your house safe and dry during the long winter months in Connecticut! If you have any concerns about your furnace don’t hesitate to give us a call at Baribault Fuel – 860.274.3284.
