During the winter, you’ve most likely noticed that your windows and mirrors fog up frequently. This phenomenon may seem trivial to you, but condensation is not to be taken lightly. Find out how it forms in your home, what its effects are over time and how to combat its appearance.
What is condensation and how is it formed?
Condensation is a physical phenomenon that is, in reality, air loaded with water vapor coming into contact with a cold surface, transforming the vapor into liquid. In other words, it is formed when indoor air is saturated with moisture and comes into contact with cold walls such as windows or walls. Water vapor condenses, making water droplets visible on some surfaces.
In autumn and winter, this phenomenon is much more apparent, especially when temperatures are low. The air tends to moisten with the breathing of the occupants of the house, when we cook food, when we do household chores, when we take a shower and in many other ways. Logically, the rooms most affected by condensation are the bathroom and the kitchen.
What are the consequences of condensation in a house?
Although it can be fun for children, the phenomenon of condensation can cause some damage in the house. Here are its most common negative effects on your home:
- Decreased visibility at the windows: with the fog that covers the glass, it becomes difficult to see through your windows;
- Waterlogged wooden window frames and doors: Ubiquitous moisture alters the wooden frames of windows and doors. Once waterlogged, they deform and have difficulty opening and closing;
- An alteration of the walls: the paint at the level of the walls and the wallpaper end up peeling with the moisture that settles;
- Mould and fungus growth: moisture is present in many cold surfaces. Dark areas always exposed to moisture are a place perfectly suited to the development of fungi and above all, mold. Their presence can cause various respiratory problems to the occupants of the house;
- Weakening of the structure of the house: if condensation is very important, it is possible that moisture infiltrates deep into the wood and walls, weakening the house over time.
How to fight against the appearance of condensation in your home?
If your home has a high level of condensation, there is a problem somewhere. To do this, you need to fix the problem in several ways:
- Optimize the ventilation of your home in order to maintain a respectable humidity level in each room;
- Peel furniture off exterior walls
- Opt for more efficient and better insulated doors and windows, which will make the windows warmer and less conducive to fogging ;
- Reduce the duration of your evening showers;
- Use extractor hoods in the kitchen to prevent cooking steam from spreading;
- Do not dry laundry in the house;
- Always cover the pans to limit the evaporation of the cooking juices;
- Use an air dehumidifier.
About The Author: Cedric Pharand
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