Take steps to put a damper on dampness

Fogged windows are a fact of life, but frequent and lasting condensation on your windows can be a problem. It shows up in two ways. First, too much moisture inside your home encourages your window frame to rot and mold to grow. Second, ongoing condensation can be a sign that your house is not “breathing” properly and needs better ventilation.

Condensation happens whenever warm, moist air contacts a cool surface; we’ve all seen a drinking glass “sweat” on a summer afternoon. In terms of windows, condensation can happen either indoors or outdoors. Exterior window condensation occurs when humid air encounters cool window glass, such as when you run the air conditioner on a muggy summer night and wake up to drippy windows outside. When the temperature drops, the first place you will see any condensation is on the windows.

The bigger—and more common—the issue is interior condensation. As winter comes on, the warm, moist air meeting cold window glass will be indoors. And that can mean water running down your windows and puddling along with window frames and windowsills. Interestingly, large windows may be more likely to show condensation than smaller windows, and so will windows protected from the wind. Also, new windows may have more condensation than old windows because they’re snugger and more airtight. (We’ll get into the ventilation thing in a moment.)

Some humidity indoors is unavoidable and absolutely necessary. Don’t get upset over the occasional foggy window. However, if you regularly have beads of water running down your windows, something could be awry.

Condensation on double-glazed windows. Is it bad seals or indoor humidity?

Before calling for a repair service, try this easy test. Run your finger through the area where the condensation is formed. If your finger gets wet and leaves a trail through the condensation, it’s on the room side of the glass. That tells you that condensation is forming because of excessive indoor humidity.

Consider taking steps if:

➢ The air in your home smells musty.
➢ You see mold, mildew or rot around your windows.
➢ Even after outdoor temperatures warm up, condensation clings to your windows.
➢ You notice damp walls, staining, peeling wallpaper, or blistering paint.

Time to Clear the Air – of Humidity and Pollutants

What to do? First, dry out. Ongoing condensation is a sign your humidity is too high. Lots of things affect indoor humidity—cooking, showering, running a dishwasher or humidifier—even your houseplants. (Plus breathing, as we know.) Other less common contributors are pets, fish tanks, and firewood you might be storing indoors. Note how many of these items are in your home and see what you can do to reduce their impact. If you use a humidifier, for example, try turning it down or running it less often. Use the exhaust fans in your bathroom or kitchen every time you shower or cook, and let them run for 15 to 20 minutes. If you have lots of plants sitting near your windows (so they get sunlight, duh), consider moving them to another spot where moisture from their leaves and potting soil won’t boost humidity near your windows. Also consider purchasing a dehumidifier or a prepackaged desiccant product like DampRid, if simpler measures don’t work.

Then, stir the air.

Good air circulation helps fight condensation. It’s possible your home isn’t “breathing” enough, especially if you’ve got newer windows and have thoroughly insulated and weather-stripped. Today’s airtight and energy-efficient windows may cut heating costs, but they also reduce air leaks, and so seal in humidity and contaminants. The easiest and quickest way to boost ventilation (although it won’t help your energy bill) is by opening the windows a little now and then. Another option is to run your ceiling fans. Stirring warmer air near the ceiling into cooler air near the floor can boost evaporation on your windows.

How Can We Help?

At McCann Windows & Exteriors, we don’t want you steamed up about foggy windows or excess condensation. Let us help you get clear on the best ways to keep you and your home in tip-top shape all winter, especially when it comes to windows, doors and exterior renovations. We’re ready to serve you and estimates are free! Please just give us a call at 847-562-1212 or schedule a free consultation here. We’ll be right over.

Yours,
Kevin McCann

Simple Tips to Keep Heat In, Cold Out

Like getting out of your comfort zone? Good! Winter’s coming. Prep for the polar vortex. While I enjoy a cool breeze on my face as much as the next guy, I don’t like it when the cool breeze is in my living room, coming from a draft. And I don’t like opening energy bills that cause me to say words loudly.

But insulation can help. Insulation is any material used to slow or stop the transfer of energy—whether heat, electricity, or sound—between spaces. Nature’s laws say the heat will always flow from warmer to colder spaces. In your house, that looks like warmth leaking out your roof, walls, or windows in the winter, and as sun battling your air conditioner for control of the indoor temperature in summer. Both can make your energy bills soar.

Fall is an excellent time to evaluate and improve your home’s insulation. While the ancient Greeks and Romans didn’t get energy bills, they still understood that insulation increases the comfort of home. They used natural materials such as stone and cork in their houses, while our pioneers relied on mud, straw, or wood shavings. Depending on its age, your home probably employs some form of natural fiber (such as cellulose) or synthetic fill (such as fiberglass, foam board, or mineral wool) to manage temperature extremes.

Windows, however, are another story. Although glass is relatively inert with poor thermal conductivity, heat still escapes faster per square foot of glass than through any other surface in the home, such as floors, walls, roofs, etc.

So what can you do to keep heat indoors in the months ahead? Here are some choices for insulating your windows.

DIY Options with Caulk and Window Film

Start with the obvious stuff—gaps or cracks in the frames around your windows. Caulk works well here, and it comes in different forms. Rope caulk is actually a super-long string of putty that you unwind and press into cracks with your fingers. Latex or silicone-based caulk comes in tubes requiring a caulk gun to install. While trickier to apply, it’s the longer-lasting solution.

Then there are the windows themselves. If you don’t mind losing your view (say, in the basement or attic), consider sticking bubble wrap to the inside of your window. Spray a thin layer of water on a clean window and push the bubble wrap into place. Then secure the edges with painter’s tape so you don’t mar the finish when removing the wrap in spring.

Plastic window films work the same way, but without impairing your view. Many home improvement and hardware stores sell kits containing double-sided sticky tape and plastic film pre-cut to standard window sizes. On the inside of your home, apply the sticky tape to the window frame; then press the plastic film into place. Heat the film with a blow dryer to shrink it and form a tight seal.

Another option is reflective—or low-emissivity (“low E”)—window film. Again, apply this product directly to the interior window surface. Instead of forming an air pocket, though, low-E window film blocks thermal energy from crossing a reflective surface on the film. This holds in heat during winter and reflects the sun away from your windows in summer, reducing solar gain.

Are Replacement Windows for You?

The most permanent solution, of course, is replacing old, leaky windows with new, energy-efficient ones. If you’re considering this route, here are three factors to weigh.

Window frames. The material surrounding your window contributes to its overall energy efficiency. At one end of the continuum are metal frames, like aluminum, which conduct heat rapidly. This makes them poor choices as far as insulation. In the middle of the continuum are frames made of synthetic materials such as fiberglass or vinyl. Not only are these materials less conductive; they may also come with air cavities or hollows that can be filled with insulation. Best from an insulation standpoint, though, are wooden frames, as long as they aren’t clad in metal, since wood is poor at conducting heat.

Window glazing. Windows today often come with more than one layer of glass, precisely because of the energy efficiencies involved. Double-glazed windows incorporate two panes of glass in the frame, while triple-glazed windows have (you guessed it) three panes. It’s not uncommon for inert gases to be sandwiched between panes for greater insulating properties. (See below.)

Insulating gases between glass layers. Inert gases are substances such as argon or krypton that are chemically non-reactive. Because they are non-reactive, sealing these gases inside double-and triple-paned windows minimizes heat transfer and increases insulation properties. While more expensive, these gas-filled windows also have the best insulating properties.

How Can We Help You Prep for the Polar Vortex?

At McCann Windows & Exteriors, we want you snug as a bug in a rug all winter. Let us help you figure that out by evaluating the fit and energy efficiency of your home’s windows and doors. We’re ready to serve you and estimates are free! Please just give us a call at (847) 892-4071 or fill out our schedule form here. We’ll be right over.

Warmly yours,

Kevin McCann

¹ “Insulation,” Merriam-Webster online dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insulation.

² Mike O’Hara, “The Story of Insulation: A Tale to Warm More Than Your Heart,” accessed Sept. 15, 2019: https://www.insulatekansascity.com/insulation-blog/story-insulation-tale-warm-heart/

³ “Types of Insulation,” Department of Energy, accessed Sept. 15, 2019: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/insulation/types-insulation.

⁴ Sarma Pisupati, “Windows and Heat Loss,” EGEE 102: Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection, Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, accessed Sept. 16, 2019: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/egee102/node/2017.

⁵ Dwayne Hogan, “5 Ways to Insulate Your Apartment Windows for Winter,” Move.org, updated Dec. 18, 2015: https://www.move.org/5-ways-insulate-apartment-windows-winter/

⁶ Ibid.

⁷ Lee Wallender, “How to Insulate Windows,” The Spruce, updated Feb. 8, 2019: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-insulate-windows-4159324

⁸ Hogan, “5 Ways to Insulate Your Apartment Windows for Winter”: https://www.move.org/5-ways-insulate-apartment-windows-winter/

⁹ “Window Types and Technologies,” Department of Energy, accessed Sept. 16, 2019: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/window-types-and-technologies

^1o “Window Types and Technologies,” https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/window-types-and-technologies

¹¹ Ibid.