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Since we are in the cold month of February now I decided I would touch base on a topic a lot of consumers are having trouble with around this time of year, Condensation.
Condensation is the change of a molecule from a gas to a liquid. It oc
curs when the internal air within a home or building has a high level of relative humidity. When this air comes in contact with a cold surface such as a window, a concrete wall or floor, or a metallic object, the air particles turn from a gas to a liquid state, and form as water droplets on the surface of that object.
This can be witnessed occurring mostly in winter, for example when the humidity in your home is high and the temperature of the outside air is cold. The windows inside will end up feeling cold to the touch, if there is a lot of humidity present within your home this cold surface will quickly cool any water molecules built up in the air, and form as dew on the surface of the glass. You may also see this effect in the summer when pouring your self a cold beverage. When you go out doors with your drink, water forms on the outside of the glass.
For home owners this can be an ever plaguing problem. The condensation can often times build up on windows and doors, and cause the rotting of wood surfaces or deterioration of paint, and in extreme cases, cause the build up of hazardous mould and mildew. Rotting and mould build up can occur in little time at all, and can amount to large renovation bills if the problem is left to reap havoc on your home. It can spread from window frames to wall studs and pretty much any where along the way. New home owners are not free of this problem either. We have seen homes little over a year old where windows have needed replacement because of rotting window frames from condensation.
Now you are probably asking your self, how do I know if I have excessive condensation problems? Almost every home during winter will have a slightly visible sign of condensation build up, mainly found on the bottom of window panes. When this condensation starts to build up excessively, where a large portion of the window is covered in water droplets, you may be getting into a problem with excessive condensation. If you notice the paint on your windows start to bubble up then you definitely have too much condensation within your home and this can lead to more problems down the road.
Another good indicator as to the amount of condensation you have in your home is if you notice a musty smell within your home. This musty smell can be an early indicator that mould is beginning to cultivate or is already present in your home, and should be taken very seriously. Sometimes a home owner can become unreceptive to the musty odours in their home, but if guests are commenting on the smell you should have a closer look and take appropriate measures to ensure that you don’t have excessively high levels of condensation.
One of the most common forms of mould relating to condensation is Aspergillus Niger which can be seen within the home as black spots or blotches. This occurs 
when the condensation reacts with the drywall in your house and allows the mould to grow. Large amounts of this mould can cause individuals to experience health problems. Other forms of mould that can be found in your home can also appear green or yellow in colour, and some times white which, make it hard to detect visibly. These types of mould can also cause health concerns, musty odours, and ruin fabrics and destroy other decorative objects.
Condensation can also be mistaken for other problems within your home so don’t jump to the conclusion that excessive condensation is causing your problems, without further investigation. Other problems which can cause similar symptoms to condensation can occur from leaking pipes, rain seeping through the roof or overflowing from a blocked gutter, improperly sealed window or door units, or water penetrating foundation walls.
By now you have probably determined that your home has some condensation issues and you are wondering, “What can I do to eliminate the condensation in my home?” Well first of all, eliminating all the condensation within your home is not the best way to go about it. You want to maintain a certain level of condensation so that the living conditions within your home are bearable, because an excessively dry home can lead to problems as well, such as dry skin and breathing problems.
There are many simple steps you can take to lower the amount of condensation in your home. Such as when cooking, make sure boiling pots and pans are covered and kettles aren’t left boiling for too long, and turn on your electric stove top fan if it has a ventilator. When washing clothing, leave them outside to dry and not inside the home and make sure if you use a tumble dryer that it ventilates to the outdoors. When using the washrooms for showers or baths, make sure a window is left open afterwards, or if a window is not available have a portable de-humidifier to collect the moisture around the room. Cut the times of your baths and showers down and make sure that the door in your washroom is closed when in use, so that the water vapours do not escape into other rooms, and wipe down damp surfaces with a towel. Also if using a humidifier in your home, only have it running when someone is present in the room, and keep it on a low setting, and only use it if it is absolutely necessary.
Another method of lowering the level of condensation is to increase the level of heat in your home. An efficient way of doing this is by installing better insulation in your attic and walls, and/or installing energy efficient windows which in turn can lower your hydro costs. Regardless of route make sure you hire a good contractor who knows what they are doing and can recommend you a quality product. When shopping for replacement windows and doors make sure that the contractor does quality work by checking out their previous work and make sure they are a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Siding and Window Dealers Association of Canada (SAWDAC). Also make sure to install double pane glass with an argon gas insulator and check that the windows are properly insulated with foam insulation and sealed using polyurethane caulking.
Condensation often follows home owners from home to home, so have a good look at you daily lifestyle habits and make appropriate changes to avoid any detrimental effects that can be caused by excessive condensation.
By Daniel Sevitti