Guide to Understanding Condensation

Introduction
The moisture that suddenly appears in cold weather on the interior or exterior of window and patio door glass can block the view, drip on the floor or freeze on the glass. It can be an annoying problem. While it may seem natural to blame the windows or doors, interior condensation  is really an indication of excess humidity in the home. Exterior condensation, on the other hand, is a form of dew - the glass simply provides a surface on which the moisture can condense.

The important thing to realize is that if excessive humidity is causing window condensation, it may also be causing problems elsewhere in your home. Here are some other signs of excess humidity:

We have created this brochure to answer questions you may have about condensation, indoor humidity and exterior condensation. We'll start with the basics and offer solutions and alternatives along the way.

Should you run into problems or situations not covered in the following pages, please contact your Andersen retailer, visit the Andersen website www.andersenwindows.com, or call the Andersen customer service toll-free number 1-888-888-7020.

CONDENSATION & HUMIDITY

What is condensation?
Moisture on the windows is a form of condensation. So is the water that forms on the outside of a glass of iced tea in the summer. It comes from water vapor in the air. It can appear on the interior or exterior of the window glass.

What causes condensation?
When warm, moist air comes into contact with cooler surfaces, the excess moisture in the air condenses. That's because the cooled air next to the cool surface can't hold as much moisture as the warmer surrounding air.

What does the condensation on windows mean?
Window condensation can be a warning sign. It may mean that excessive indoor humidity could be doing unseen damage to other parts of your home.

What is humidity?
Humidity is water vapor, or moisture, in the air. Usually it's invisible. In the form of steam or ground fog, enough has condensed to be seen. All air contains a certain amount of moisture, visible or not.

 Where does indoor moisture come from?
There are many things that generate indoor moisture. The normal perspiration and breathing of a family of four adds about half a pint of water to the air every hour. cooking three meals a day adds four or five pints of water to the air. Each shower contributes another half-pint. In fact every activity that uses water (like dishwashing, mopping floors, doing laundry) adds moisture to the air. Daily living activities of a family of four can add more that 18 gallons of water a week to the air in their home. And the more water vapor in the air, the higher the relative indoor humidity. Other contributors include house plants, and the burning of fossil fuels (especially kerosene, natural gas, and oil).

What is relative humidity?
Air can hold only a limited amount of water vapor, and that amount depends on the air temperature. When air at a certain temperature contains all the vapor it can hold, it's said to have a relative humidity of 100%. Thus, when it holds only half as much water as it could, the relative humidity is 50%.

Cooler air can hold less vapor that warmer air. So air at 30°F and 100% relative humidity contains less water that air at 70°F and 100% relative humidity.

How do I measure indoor relative humidity?
You can use humidity-measuring instruments called hygrometers, inexpensive tools that can be purchased at most hardware stores. Many of today's new programmable thermostats also include controls for humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Remember that relative humidity levels quoted in weather reports indicate outdoor humidity. They have little bearing on your home's humidity.

What are symptoms of excess humidity
Condensation on windows can sometimes be an indicator of excessive relative humidity. Look for water and ice on windows. Check for damp spots on the ceiling, particularly in closets. Water-filled blisters on outside paint surfaces can also indicate excessive indoor humidity.

Can relative humidity affect my health?
Most experts agree that relative agree that relative humidity can affect your health. They suggest maintaining indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50%. According to the World Health Organization, at levels higher than 65%, upper respiratory illness might occur in people suffering from asthma and allergies. Lower moisture levels (below 20%) may induce skin dryness or itching.

Where is condensation most prevalent?
Condensation is more apt to occur in climates where the average January temperature is 35°F or colder.

What does excess humidity do to my home?
Excess humidity contributes to the deterioration of any home. It can pass through walls and freeze in the insulation. In spring it melts, damaging your ceiling and walls. Or, excess humidity can force its way out through siding to form blisters under exterior surfaces. Excessive relative humidity levels may also lead to higher levels of unwanted mold and mildew growth in homes.

How does moisture go through walls?
Moisture in wet air tries to flow toward dry air. This is due to "vapor pressure." The flow acts independently of air currents. In winter, inside air is much more humid than colder outside air. So the vapor pressure or equalization process, can actually force inside moisture through cement, wood, plaster and brick.

Some varnishes and paints block the flow of the moisture, so condensation can occur between the inside and outside walls, or under exterior paint surfaces. This can cause rot in a home's wood frame, blistering in paint, and deterioration of other building materials.

Does condensation occur only in winter?
Condensation is most common in winter, but it can occur whenever water vapor in the air comes in contact with a surface temperature lower than the dew pint (the temperature at which air becomes saturated and produces dew). For example, on cold winter days the moisture in the warm, interior air can condense on the typically colder glass surfaces.

In rare instances, during the spring and fall (and occasionally, during hot, humid summer days), exterior condensation can also form on windows. This is usually a good indicator of the presence of energy efficient windows.

Does the severity of the condensation depend on the age of the house?
Generally yes. Years ago, before energy efficiency became a concern, homes were not built to be weather tight. Insulation concepts were very basic. Walls and ceilings were made from much more porous materials. Thus water vapor could easily flow in and out of walls. Today's homes are much "tighter". Windows and doors are built to reduce air leakage and weather-stripping, modern insulation, vapor barriers and new construction techniques can help keep cold air out and lock moisture inside. As a result, moisture created by bathrooms kitchens, laundries, plants and occupants can result in higher interior relative humidity. In the worst conditions this can build up to excessive, even harmful, moisture levels.

COMFORT AND INDOOR HUMIDITY

What is the relationship between humidity and comfort?
Whether or not you feel comfortable in a room is dependent on many factors, including the temperature of the air, the relative humidity, the movement of the air, the temperature of all the surrounding surfaces in the room, and the presence of direct solar radiation. Since indoor humidity is one critical component of the comfort you should carefully consider the indoor humidity conditions in both summer and winter.

Humidity and winter comfort
Higher humidity levels in a home might mean greater comfort in the winter. Some people find it easier to breathe humidified air. Soft tissues such as the linings of your nose and throat don't dry out as easily, and in some cases, the dry winter air might even need to be humidified to help achieve good thermal comfort in winter.

Most people will be comfortable in the winter if the indoor relative humidity is between 30% and 70% and the indoor temperature is between 65°F and 70°F.

Humidity and summer comfort
Almost everyone has experienced the discomfort associated with high temperatures combined with high humidity. In fact, one of the key advantages of air conditioning is the removal of unwanted moisture in air during the summer

Again, many elements contribute to summertime comfort - air temperature, surface temperatures, relative humidity, air movement, and direct solar radiation.

Most people will feel comfortable in the summer if the indoor relative humidity is between 25% and 55% and the indoor temperature is between 72°F and 82°F.

In summer direct sunlight can create overheating and discomfort in homes. Windows with Low-E glass can reduce solar heat gain - and maintain sufficient light and view.

CONTROLLING INDOOR HUMIDITY

How does indoor humidity affect window condensation?
Excessive humidity is the cause of most window condensation. As the outside temperature drops, the window glass temperature also drops. When moist air comes in contact with the cold glass pane, the moisture condenses and forms water droplets. Determining when the condensation will occur and preventing it depends on the energy efficiency of the window, the relative indoor humidity of the home, and the exterior and interior temperature.

In winter, is it a good idea to use a humidifier in my home?
While some people may find it easier to breathe humidified air, humidification can sometimes have negative side effects. Humidifiers need to be cleaned regularly. If not, molds and bacteria can live in them. Also, it the air is humidified excessively, condensation and other excess humidity-related problems can occur.

On the plus side, humidified air can help reduce static electricity in carpets, shrinkage in wood furniture, and wall cracks sometimes caused by over drying. You must carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of humidification. Remember, too much humidity can cause condensation and other moisture related problems.

If I increase the relative humidity in my home in winter, can I lower the temperature and save energy?
Although there is a relationship between how warm you feel and relative humidity, the human body quickly adjusts to moderate changes in humidity levels. If you feel cold at 65°F, the humidity level really won't matter, You'll still feel cold.

Besides turning off the humidifier, how else can I reduce indoor humidity in winter?

As the air temperature drops, you should also decrease the humidity level with your home. The bottom line: maintain as high a relative humidity level as you can for comfort, then reduce the humidity level when condensation occurs. In many homes this simply means turning off the humidifier, or reducing the sources of humidity in the home.

Part II - December 2005 Featured Product - Windows and Condensation and Andersen® High-Performance Glass

You can learn more about Andersen® Windows or condensation by calling us or visiting www.andersenwindows.com.

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 Information and specifications are subject to change without notice.
09/18/06


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