One area where double glazing is marketed as offering solutions is reducing your energy bills, making a warmer more secure home and reducing condensation.
It is very important to remember that no new window or door will eliminate condensation completely. There are many factors that cause condensation on double glazed windows and by far the most common is how we live in our homes and how we ventilate them.
What causes condensation on windows?
If you see condensation or moisture between the two panes of glass on an old or even newer window this means that the hermetic seal on your double glazed unit has failed. This cannot be repaired and the glass (not the whole window) will need replacing.
Technology in double glazed units has changed quite a lot in recent years and the failure of double glazed units is less common.
What can cause other condensation on double glazed windows and doors?
How we live in our homes has a great bearing on condensation levels.
Flats for example have little by way of outside space and it is common for those living in flats to dry their washing on radiators or in the home. This causes condensation.
Steam from cooking or bathing is another factor. New build homes or recently constructed extensions take a long time to fully dry out and this can be another cause.
Home heating generates moisture and even when we sleep we release water vapour.
If you have trickle vents in your windows always have these open. Many people choose to shut them especially during the winter but they are very useful in bringing fresh clean air into a room.
Condensation on the outside of your new windows.
You may sometimes see condensation in the Autumnal months especially on the outside of your new windows.
This is normal and actually shows how your new energy efficient windows and your glass units are all working together.
Windows and their glass are now more energy efficient than every before and do a better job than ever of retaining the heat in the home and keeping the cold out.
A byproduct of modern windows and doors will be that some condensation will sometimes be visible on the outside pane.
In simple terms, any surface that is colder externally than the surface internally will condensate. So there is nothing to worry about if you see condensation on the outside pane.
However it is important to remember new double glazing will perform better than single glazed windows but no new window will eliminate condensation.
