Why do the windows fog up in the apartment

The question often arises why double-glazed windows sweat in an apartment or a private house. There are many factors that contribute to this process. To fix the problem, first of all, you should figure out which of the reasons led to the formation of condensate. Otherwise, moisture on the glass and plastic profile in the apartment will not disappear. And the result will be the formation of fungus, mold.

Why do windows sweat?

The reason for this phenomenon is the condensate that falls on the cooled surface of the object. For this to happen, two conditions must be met: a change in temperature and humidity in the room. The boundary at which moisture changes from vapor to liquid is called the dew point.

For each temperature and humidity level in the room, there is a certain limit to the cooling of the surface of the object. For example, if the air in the apartment is heated to 20 degrees, and the humidity is 40%, dew on the glass will appear when it cools to a temperature of 6 degrees.

An increased level of humidity accelerates the process of condensation. If the climate of the area is characterized by high humidity, it will not be possible to completely remove the cause of the appearance of moisture on the glass. It is only necessary to contribute to the artificial drying of the air in the apartment, for which special devices have been created today.

Reasons for fogging windows

Condensation on glass can occur under different conditions:

• in the morning, when the air temperature outside the window is lowered;
• during cooking, in this case, the glasses fog up in the cold season (winter, autumn, spring);
• the problem makes itself felt throughout the heating season;
• in the house double-glazed windows are sweating only on one of the windows.

If such manifestations take place, it is worth seriously attending to the question of why this happens. Manufacturers stipulate that a small, but most importantly, irregular and short-term fogging of glass falls within the norm.

Excessive tightness

What to do if the windows practically do not allow air from outside the room? Plastic window blocks are known for their tightness, which guarantees a reduction in heat loss from the room. However, this advantage also has a downside - the window will not let air into the house, which means inefficient natural air circulation and subsequent fogging of double-glazed windows.

To solve this issue, manufacturers have provided the ability to adjust the sash through elements such as trunnions. With their help, you can transfer the structure to summer or winter operation. Decisive in this case will be the pressing force of the sash.

Excess moisture

Another reason why double-glazed windows sweat is the increased values ​​of the microclimate parameters. In particular, we are talking about the relative humidity in the apartment. Regulatory documents define the maximum level of this parameter no more than 40%. All indicators that are higher than the specified value indicate an increased moisture content in the air.

Installation of exhaust valves

Humidity levels can be controlled independently, for which hygrometers are used. But what if there is a similar problem? Air dryers should be used.

Manufacturing defect, poor product quality

Usually designs offered at a low cost are of low quality. In different cases, this may mean the installation of cheap fittings that do not last long and cannot be repaired, or flaws in the design of the product: errors in the drainage system or when assembling the window block.

What to do in such situations? A lot depends on what exactly is wrong. In some cases it is necessary to change the entire window, in others it is enough to replace the double-glazed window. And it is better not to save money when buying a new design.

Low efficiency of the residential heating system

If the windows are sweating, and along with this trouble, there is a coolness in the house, one can consider the possibility that the cause of condensation is insufficiently heated heating pipes. To fix the problem, you need to determine the condition of the heating system: in an old house, to improve the microclimate, it may be necessary to replace communications and equipment.

Optimal and permissible norms of temperature, relative humidity

In new buildings, it is enough to adjust the heating level of the radiator (with local heating control) or to make up for the loss of already missing heat with an electric heater.

If one of the windows fogs up or all at once due to the protruding window sill, then in this case the problem is solved in different ways: you can install an electric heater next to the window, change the dimensions of the window sill, or move the battery a little further.

The reason for the condensation is the wrong size of the window sill

The first two methods are not expensive. But the transfer of the radiator will entail significant costs.

Poor ventilation

Natural air circulation in the apartment often deteriorates after the installation of plastic windows. Therefore, this consequence is eliminated by installing supply and exhaust ventilation. One of the mistakes in this case is the incorrect calculation of the ventilation system performance level for the outflow and inflow of air. This leads to too intense heat loss from the room or, conversely, too slow air circulation.

To fix the problem, you need to choose the right equipment or adjust existing ventilation, taking into account the size of the room and the number of people who regularly stay in the room. You can strengthen the air injection in the apartment by installing a supply valve directly in the design of the plastic window. In this case, it is necessary to configure its work as accurately as possible.

It is important that there is a gap at the bottom of the door leaf when entering the problem room. If necessary, exhaust ventilation is installed, however, this solution is easier to implement in private housing.

The most difficult situations are those associated with a manufacturing defect of the product or its low quality. In the worst case, you will have to replace the window unit. In this case, the choice should be made not by price, but by characteristics and, guided by the reputation of the manufacturer.