CONDENSATION

Q: What steps can I take to reduce excessive humidity in my present home and control window condensation?

A: 1. Recognize that the best way to stop condensation is to reduce the moisture in the inside air.
2. Be sure that attic or crawl spaces are properly ventilated. Add a vapor barrier to cover the earth in the crawl space.
3. Be willing to try living in lower humidity.
4. Eliminate any sources of moisture in your home, which you can control.
5. In winter, provide more controlled ways for moist inside air to get out. Run kitchen or other ventilating fans longer and more often than you normally do.

WINDOWS & CONDENSATION

Q: Do windows cause condensation?
A: Windows are not a cause, per se. They provide a ready medium on which the vapor can condense. But the primary cause of condensation is excessive moisture in the air. Windows are only indicators of excessive moisture.

Q: Why do I see condensation on my windows and gliding doors first?
A: Condensation is generally seen first on windows and gliding doors because they tend to have the lowest temperature of any of the visible surfaces in the house.

Q: What causes condensation on windows and gliding doors?
A: Recall that cool air is able to hold less moisture than warm air. Therefore, when the warm, moist air of the room comes into contact with the cool glass surface, some water vapor that can no longer be held by the cooled air is deposited on the glass.