Have you ever noticed water drops on your windows during winter? What about delicate drawings left by Jack Frost? Many Canadians struggle with condensation on their windows during the cold months, but it’s important to find a way to overcome this challenge — otherwise your home may be at an increased risk for mould.
Why is Water Condensing?
Air holds a lot of water. However, warmer air can hold much more water than cold air. This is usually fine, but it can cause problems when the air inside our homes is much warmer than the air outside — such as during the winter. If the external walls or windows are not insulated well, they can be cold enough to cool off the air. The cooler air can no longer hold as much water, so the water condenses onto the surface. It makes the wall or other surface damp, and soon you have a mould problem. Keep in mind that water won’t necessarily condense where you can see it. Droplets may be forming on a cold subfloor beneath your carpet, inside the windowsill, or anywhere cool.
Increase Insulation.
When it comes to preventing window sweat during the cold months, your best tool is insulation. A building that is well insulated won’t have an obvious temperature gradient. Therefore, air won’t significantly cool, and water will not condense onto surfaces. Take a moment to honestly evaluate your weather stripping, exterior doors, windows. If these important features aren’t up to date, it may be time to consider upgrading them to the latest, energy efficient options.
Control Humidity.
The other tool in your belt is controlling humidity. After all, if you can keep humidity low enough, the air will be able to keep ahold of its moisture as it cools. Kitchens, washrooms, and laundry rooms create the most moisture, so controlling humidity in these rooms will be most important. We recommend installing proper ventilation and using your ceiling fans! Remember to keep the fan in the bathroom running while you shower and for an additional 30 minutes after you’re finishing.
Preventing mould in your home is all about handling moisture and preventing water from ever collecting on a surface. Mould only needs a surface to stay damp for 24 hours, so window sweat and other surface condensation supply plenty of water for mould to begin growing. If you want help preventing mould — or are worried that your home or business already has mould, contact the Calgary mould removal experts at Amity Environmental today!
