7 Effective Ways to Reduce Condensation in your Home
There are many reasons why it’s important to reduce condensation in your home. Condensation occurs when warm water vapor in the air comes in contact with a cooler surface, causing water droplets to form. This can be a major problem especially in more humid climates where there is naturally more moisture in the air to cause condensation. It is also more of a problem in rooms where more moisture tends to be present, such as the bathroom and the kitchen.
The problem with condensation in the home is that the repeated presence of moisture on windows, walls, and fabrics can cause dampness that can lead to harmful mold and mildew. Over time, this can lead to damages to your windows and other parts of your home and valuables as well. Not to mention, mold and mildew can be a major health hazard for those with asthma.
However, there are some things you can do to eliminate some of the moisture in your home environment and minimize these issues. Here are 7 effective ways to reduce condensation in your home.
- Turn down the humidifier or buy a dehumidifier
- Reduce condensation by circulating the air
- Open your windows to reduce condensation
- Use your kitchen and bathroom fans
- Relocate your houseplants to reduce condensation
- Reduce condensation by properly venting your washer/dryer
- Replace old windows with energy-efficient windows
1. Turn down the humidifier or buy a dehumidifier
The amount of condensation in your home is directly tied to the amount of moisture in the air (humidity). Therefore, if you use a humidifier in your home, consider turning it down to decrease the amount of moisture in your home environment and reduce condensation. This is especially important if you have already noticed excessive condensation on your walls, surfaces, and windows. Alternatively, if you live in a more humid climate, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will remove excess moisture in the air, thus reducing condensation.
2. Reduce condensation by circulating the air
Condensation occurs when moisture from the air settles onto a surface. This can sometimes be alleviated by increasing air circulation. Therefore, if you have ceiling fans, use them! If you have a condensation problem in your home, using your ceiling fans to help circulate the air in your home environment can be a big help to reduce condensation. The direction your ceiling fan spins is also important depending on the season. Watch this short video for an explanation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_7XaVegHLA&t=45s
3. Open your windows to reduce condensation
Another effective way to increase circulation in your home and reduce condensation is to open your windows. This might not be possible in every season. However, when the weather is nice outside, use the opportunity to let out some of the warm, moist air in your home and increase airflow.
4. Use your kitchen and bathroom fans
Your kitchen and bathroom are the biggest culprits in your home that contribute to excessive moisture in the air. A significant amount of hot/warm water vapor is released every time you cook or take a shower. This sharply contrasts with the cooler surfaces of your home, creating the perfect conditions for condensation to form. You can combat this by always using your extractor fans in your kitchen over your stovetop or kitchen island when you cook or in your bathroom when you take a shower. This will greatly reduce condensation. However, don’t turn the fan off as soon as you’re done with either activity. Keep the fan on for at least 10 to 15 mins after cooking or showering so it can continue to pull residual moisture from the air.
5. Relocate your houseplants to reduce condensation
Just like we give off moisture when we breathe, your plants give off moisture when they “breathe” as well. Some plants (usually tropical varieties) need a certain amount of humidity in the environment to keep from wilting and dying. Therefore, if you have a lot of houseplants grouped together near a window or wall and have noticed excess condensation collecting, consider relocating your plants away from those surfaces and separating them. Keeping them grouped together creates a sort of self-sustaining humid environment within them. If the problem continues and does not adequately reduce condensation, you might consider putting your plants outside for a while.
6. Reduce condensation by properly venting your washer/dryer
Another thing to consider if you want to reduce condensation in your home is to check your washer and dryer. When you do laundry, your washer and dryer produce a significant amount of warm, moist air. Therefore, if your washer and dryer are not venting properly, all of that residual humidity will flow into your laundry room and home causing condensation on surfaces. You should be able to avoid this with proper ventilation.
7. Replace old windows with energy-efficient windows
Your windows are one of the most susceptible places for condensation to form. This is especially true in older windows that might have cracks or leaks that allow air and moisture to flow through. Condensation can easily collect on the glass and pool inside the frame, creating the perfect conditions for mold to form. This further damages your windows. It also wastes energy by making your air conditioning or heating system work harder as air escapes, causing your energy bills to be higher. These issues can be remedied and nearly eliminated simply by replacing your old windows with new ones. Energy-efficient windows are particularly effective to reduce condensation.
Are you building a custom home and interested in exploring the benefits of energy-efficient windows and other methods to reduce condensation in the construction of your own home? At Chadwick Custom Homes, our experts are dedicated to building the perfect custom home of your dreams and use only quality materials and will help make sure your dream home becomes a reality. So why wait? The first step is easy! Give us a call and talk to one of our experts today so we can help get you into your dream forever home as soon as possible!
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