Is your window glass covered with water droplets when winter arrives?

Many homeowners who have closed their windows may have this question: "Is this a leaking window?" Of course not! This is the phenomenon of condensation: small water droplets formed on the window glass are called condensation water.

 

Condensation phenomenon

Condensed water refers to liquid water formed by the condensation process of water vapor (i.e., gaseous water), and its flow rate is generally related to the moisture content of the air, dew point temperature, room temperature, etc.

The outdoor temperature in winter is very low, even a few degrees below zero, while indoor heating or underfloor heating is usually turned on, which is relatively warm. At this time, due to human activities such as cooking and bathing, high humidity is generated indoors. As a result, small water droplets, also known as condensation, will form on the glass, window sashes, and window frames of indoor doors and windows.

 

When the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large, the indoor humidity is high, and the condensation phenomenon is severe, it cannot evaporate quickly, and the water film will form small water droplets flowing along the edge of the window glass. Generally speaking, doors and windows facing the sun tend to have less condensation, while those facing the sun, such as kitchens and bathrooms, tend to have more condensation. The occurrence of condensation cannot determine whether the quality of doors and windows is qualified!

 

When condensation occurs on indoor doors and windows, we need to distinguish whether it is caused by the air intake of the glass hollow layer. The basis for judgment is to observe whether the glass has cracks or obvious spots.

If the above obvious defects occur, it is a glass quality problem, causing omissions in the sealing and drying of door and window glass.

When condensation occurs outside the hollow layer, that is, on the outer surface of the glass, and water drips down to the windowsill, it is a normal natural phenomenon.

 

How to deal with winter condensation?

(1) Properly open windows for ventilation every day, reduce the humidity of indoor air, and eliminate the moisture generated indoors during daily activities.

(2) Installing exhaust fans can effectively reduce or eliminate condensation problems in indoor spaces by appropriately turning on exhaust fans.

(3) Wipe off the dew with a cloth to prevent excessive condensation and water droplets from flowing onto the windowsill.

(4) Stick anti-fog film on the glass; the principle is the same as the rear mirror of a car.

(5) Installing a dehumidifier is currently a relatively effective and fast method to solve the problem of condensation. Mobile dehumidifier, as the name suggests, can be moved freely, with a casing made of plastic or metal. The machine, equipped with 2-4 wheels, can be moved from one room to another, from upstairs to downstairs, making it convenient and flexible to use. Generally speaking, these dehumidifiers with drain hose are suitable for small-scale dehumidification and have a relatively low price. The whole house dehumidifier is connected to the HVAC system to control the overall humidity level inside the room. This type of machine adopts fixed installation, and the body is generally placed in crawl spaces, basements, and attics.

 

For doors and windows, condensation is caused by excessive indoor humidity. From the perspective of building construction, 40 kilograms of water are needed per square meter for construction. A large amount of water needs a long evaporation process from decoration to occupancy. If it is not fully dried before occupancy, the moisture generated by living hygiene, cooking, and cooking after occupancy will also exacerbate indoor humidity. When the indoor humidity exceeds the saturation humidity of the outdoor air, the moisture in the air will form water droplets on the glass, causing condensation!