In order to explain the cause of steaming windows, it is necessary to go to the basics of physics. The air around us has its own humidity, which increases or decreases depending on weather conditions. Water molecules in the air, under certain conditions, condense on various surfaces, including also on the glass surface. Evaporation of windows occurs when the temperature of the room is lower than the ambient temperature, that is, said air.
It is much more common to steam the windows from the inside. Especially in the heating season, when there is frost outside. Anyone could have encountered this phenomenon. It is enough to raise the heating temperature in a room with increased humidity. This humidity can be caused by a lot of washing or intensive cooking. Condensation of water vapor can also occur during repair work.
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The phenomenon of evaporating or “sweating” glazing occurs in rooms where the air humidity is high, when the temperature outside is much lower than in a house or apartment. Why is this happening? One of the basic tasks of windows, including glass, is to protect the building from the cold. However, their thermal insulation performance is lower than the thermal insulation of the walls. Therefore, in the autumn-winter season, their surface is mostly cool. Warm, moist air from inside the building condenses on its surface when it comes into contact with a colder pane of glass.
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Foggy windows from the outside are most common in transitional periods, such as spring or autumn. In this case, we are dealing with the opposite situation to evaporation from the inside of the windows. The air outside heats up much faster than the closed interior of a house with very good thermal insulation. Humid air heats up during a spring or autumn day and evaporates. In the evening, when the temperature drops significantly, moisture condenses on surfaces that cool quickly, for example on glass windows. This phenomenon is very characteristic especially for areas with significant humidity (above water, near the forest, in places with poor air circulation).
It is also worth noting that the pairing of windows from the outside does not have to apply to all windows in the building. This phenomenon can manifest itself only in a particular room. Only those windows that are least illuminated and heated by the sun during the day can “sweat”.
Sometimes it happens that the windows steam between the panes. This may mean the sealing of the shaft package. In the windows, argon is placed between the panes, which is responsible for the thermal insulation of the windows. If this gas escapes, the windows will lose their properties, and water vapor will appear between the panes.
The best solution in such a situation is to replace the glass package with a new one. Be sure to report the irregularities to the window manufacturer first. You need to act quickly, because leaky windows can significantly worsen comfort and increase the energy demand of the building.
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Most of us wonder how to get rid of the problem of water vapor on the windows. The problem of water vapor can be solved, among others, by:
Foggy windows are a problem that is very common. Many residents of single-family houses or multi-apartment buildings face it. However, the most important is the fact that steaming windows do not have to be evidence of faulty construction or incorrect installation of window joinery. This phenomenon is related to the fundamental law of physics, humidity and temperature differences inside and outside the building.
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