Why does condensation collect on metal-plastic windows? How to get rid of fogging plastic windows

There is an opinion that if plastic windows sweat, then this is necessarily due to their improper installation. In fact, this is just one of the possible reasons why condensation occurs on the windows.

Location of the condensate

If condensation appears indoors, the problem must be solved in a timely manner so that mold and fungus do not appear.

The most important thing is to determine the location of the condensate. If it appeared inside a double-glazed window, then it refers exclusively to a manufacturing defect. In this case, you should call the company that was engaged in the production and installation of windows and ask to replace the double-glazed window under warranty. As a rule, the guarantee for the tightness of double-glazed windows is given for a period of five years.

But if condensation appears on the surface of the glass inside the room, then window manufacturers will not be able to help in this situation. The problem of condensation on double-glazed windows indoors should be given timely attention. so that such serious problems as moistening of slopes and walls, the appearance of mold do not develop.

To get rid of condensation on the windows, you need to understand the reasons for which it occurs. By the way, a small amount of condensate is acceptable by international standards.

Why plastic windows sweat from the inside

The process of glass fogging is associated with the transition of water from a gaseous state to liquid state. The warm air in the room contains water in the form of steam. The warmer the air in a room, the more moisture it contains. The source of such moisture can be both the people themselves, pets, and plants, pots with liquids, washing, cleaning, cooking processes.

When moist air cools, the vapor turns into water droplets. Physics has a name for this process - condensation. Fogging due to condensation will occur when room air and glass, the temperature of which is below the dew point, come into contact. The dew point is the temperature at which vapor from air turns into liquid. Glass in the room always has the lowest temperature, it is for this reason that fogging occurs on the surface plastic windows.

What to do if plastic windows sweat or how to remove condensate

There is different ways, which will help reduce the amount of condensate collected on the windows of the living space. The most common are a decrease in air humidity, as well as an increase in the temperature of the glass itself.

Increased air humidity occurs in case of improper organization of the inflow fresh air into the room and the lack of a properly working exhaust ventilation. The main task of ventilation is the removal of air saturated with vapors from the room.

Ensuring natural ventilation of the room

To ensure natural ventilation, it is necessary to ventilate the room 4-5 times a day.

If modern plastic windows are installed in the apartment, then the tightness of such double-glazed windows is 100%. Therefore, the habitual air exchange in the room for years is changing dramatically. Now the owner must take care of the flow of fresh air into the apartment himself: ventilate the room, use the window ventilation mode. It is recommended to ventilate the room up to four times a day for five minutes with the door open.

Good ventilation system: exhaust

Often it is the poor operation of the hood that leads to fogging of plastic windows, especially in the kitchen. All attempts to maintain normal humidity air will be reduced to "no" if the hood is not working. remember, that ventilation grilles must always be kept clean. If the ventilation does not perform its functions, you should contact special services that will help eliminate the blockage.

Ventilation grilles are usually located in the kitchen and bathrooms, in order to ensure normal ventilation in the rooms, you need to choose the right one interior doors. They must have overflow holes (grids) at the bottom of the web. Or the gaps between the floor and the door should be left up to 15-20 mm.

Glass temperature rise

The window sill should not cover the radiator at all, this will significantly increase the temperature of the glass

To provide optimal temperature glass and minimize the risk of condensation on the windows, you should choose the correct width of the window sills. The window sill should not completely block the heating radiators. The flow of warm air should be able to rise up, warming the glass. If the window sills are wide, you need to think about inserting ventilation grilles into them.

Blinds and roller blinds should not be attached to plastic windows too close to the glass, because they also interfere with the heating of the glass from the heat of the radiators. An important role in the temperature of the glass is the correct installation of the double-glazed windows themselves. Experts advise choosing double-glazed windows with a larger system width. The mounting seam along the perimeter of the installation of double-glazed windows should not be blown through.

The coldest part of the window is its bottom. Poet, the appearance of condensate is most often noted precisely in the lower part of the window.

Knowing possible reasons why plastic windows sweat, it will be quite simple to eliminate the formation of condensate in the apartment with your own efforts. Whether there are good windows in your apartment, and whether the manufacturer is the cause of the condensation, will indicate the place of fogging.

Tsugunov Anton Valerievich

Reading time: 4 minutes

Plastic windows have excellent characteristics, thanks to which they seriously pressed their wooden counterparts on construction market. Design features block PVC to a large extent determine performance windows: noise, dust, thermal insulation. But under certain circumstances, tightness can play a negative role - because of it, condensation appears on the windows. The fogging of glass has a bad effect not only on the light transmission of the window. It promotes the formation of mold, which spoils appearance frames and harms the health of people living in the apartment. And also in winter time years, moisture turns into ice, which adversely affects the details of the structure, shortening its life.

Condensate: physics of the phenomenon

In the air of the apartment, water is contained in the form of the smallest particles of steam. When cooled, it turns into a liquid state, and at a temperature below zero - into a solid (ice). Thus, two things are involved in window fogging and icing:

• room humidity;
• window surface temperature.

If these parameters deviate from the norm, condensation forms on plastic windows. For clarity, you can look at the bottle taken out of the refrigerator - its chilled sides instantly fog up in the heat of the apartment.

To get rid of condensation on glass, you need to remove the causes of its occurrence:

1. Increased humidity.
2. Excessive cooling of the window surface, due to which the dew point is shifted inside the room.

Attention: before starting the fight against fogging, you need to make sure that design characteristics products correspond to the climate, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to get rid of condensate on the windows if single-chamber double-glazed windows are installed in a region with severe winters.

Reasons for high humidity

Humidity in an apartment can increase for various reasons, which in the process of dealing with condensate must be identified and eliminated.

Sources of moisture

In a residential area, the humidity rate is 40-50%. If the owner of the apartment is a lover of indoor flowers or an aquarist who maintains a huge aquarium, then it is natural that the humidity of the air increases and excess moisture settles on the glass in the form of condensate. The habit of drying clothes at home or frequent cooking in the kitchen contributes to fogging.

Causes of the "cold window"

Condensation forms on plastic windows if the dew point shifts by inner surface glass due to:

1. Wrong choice of double-glazed window. Due to the small distance between the glasses in a single-chamber double-glazed window with low temperatures outdoors, its inner surface is also cooled.
2. Poor window assembly. adjoining window frame may not be done well enough: the vapor barrier tape is not laid, the cracks around the perimeter are poorly foamed.
3. Inconsistencies in the dimensions of the frame to the opening. Normally, the gap should not be more than 2 cm, otherwise the cold will penetrate even through foam and plaster.
4. Too wide window sill. By closing the heating battery, it prevents the convection of warm air. Contribute to insufficient heating of window glass and decorative boxes for batteries of irregular design.

To find out why the windows fog up in each case, you should gradually remove all of the listed reasons for the appearance of condensate according to the principle “from simple to complex”.

Do not immediately open the perimeter of the window and see if there are voids in the foam. First you need to ensure a normal flow of warm air to the window: remove the radiator grill or stop folding the curtains on the windowsill. If you make the window surface warmer by 1 - 2 ° C, then condensation will not appear.

• If you have concluded that the reason for the appearance of condensate still lies in the insufficient number of glasses, there is only one way out - to replace a single-chamber double-glazed window with a double-chamber one.

Fortunately, when replacing a double-glazed window, there is no need to change the entire structure - the frame and fittings remain in place.

• The most unpleasant thing is the marriage made during the installation of the window block. To correct the careless thermal insulation of the perimeter, you will have to break the plaster, dismantle the slopes and the window sill. In the case of a large distance between the frame and the opening, it will be necessary to replace the entire unit.

To protect yourself from negative consequences, you should trust the installation of new plastic windows only to reputable companies or personally look after each stage of work, starting with measuring the opening.

• Changing a wide window sill to a narrow one helps to improve convection, but is not always acceptable: some flower growers cannot refuse a flower oasis on the window. In such cases, a grate is mounted on the window sill to access heat from the radiator or arrange additional heating. alternative sources: thermal curtain, lamp.

Condensation on plastic windows- an extremely unpleasant phenomenon. It has not only an unaesthetic appearance, but can adversely affect human health, as it leads to the formation of fungus and mold. Sooner or later, more than 50% of PVC window owners face a similar problem. Before you panic and make claims to the manufacturer regarding the poor quality of products, it is worth understanding the nature of fogging and the reasons for its occurrence.

Process physics
Condensation is nothing more than the transition of water from a vapor to a liquid state. This happens due to temperature differences. The thing is that warm air is able to hold a large amount of liquid, but as the temperature drops, the water-holding capacity of the air drops. Excess moisture begins to accumulate on cool surfaces (for example, glass).

The normal level of humidity in a room is considered to be between 50 and 60%. Condensation occurs when there is a general cooling of the air or near cold objects. In contact with the cold outdoor air, the glass on the windows is also cooled. And if the humidity in the room is increased, or the window has cooled to a critical temperature, the glass begins to accumulate moisture on its surface from the warm air inside the room.

Factors causing condensation
Causes of moisture accumulation on double-glazed windows:

• problems with air ventilation;
• insufficient heating of the room, improper installation of the heating radiator;
• wrong choice of double-glazed windows for certain climatic conditions;
• increased moisture in the room;
• poor-quality installation;
• manufacturing defect.

Air ventilation problems. The design of plastic windows is so dense that air practically does not pass through them. If wooden frames passed small flows of oxygen, which provided natural ventilation, then PVC windows are deprived of such a function. With insufficient ventilation or disruption of the ventilation ducts, the process of moisture condensation occurs.

Insufficient space heating also causes windows to fog up. Often the access of a warm stream to double-glazed windows is disturbed due to a wide window sill or window opening, cluttered flower pots, toys or other items. Also, a radiator sewn up with drywall inside a niche and closed can become a problem. decorative lattice. This prevents the glass from warming up normally, their surface remains cold, attracts excess moisture from the air.

Wrong choice of double-glazed windows. In pursuit of savings, you can buy PVC windows Bad quality or with insufficient functionality. Single glazing is more susceptible to moisture accumulation than triple glazing.

Increased moisture in the room. In rare cases, the cause of condensation on the windows is moisture in excess of the norm from inside the room. It can be fumes from cooking, growing flowers or animals, sometimes even a large number of people in the room.

Manufacturing defect. In 10% of cases, condensation on double-glazed windows is formed due to poor-quality installation or manufacturing defects.

Solution to the problem
Daily ventilation eliminates fogging of windows in 90% of cases (if we are not talking about marriage or poor-quality installation). It is carried out at least 3 times a day (10–20 minutes each). Or you can leave the sashes in the "depressurization" ("winter ventilation") position by turning the handle up at 45 degrees. The procedure not only solves the problem, but is beneficial to health.

Faced with the problem of fogging of plastic windows, it is necessary to free the window sill from flowers, things and other objects. This will facilitate the process of getting warm air to the double-glazed windows. Before installing plastic windows, make sure that wide window sill really needed. It is desirable that it does not hang over the battery and does not interfere with heating window openings. If a wide window sill is already installed, you can drill holes in it for the flow of warm air and cover them with decorative ventilation grilles. Also, do not cover the radiator with anything - this reduces its heat transfer.

Incorrect installation of plastic windows and factory defects to fix it yourself is not only difficult, but also not necessary, interfering with the design of the window, you will lose the warranty on it. It is better to contact the installation company, demand the replacement of a double-glazed window or the correction of flaws during installation. In general, you need to know that according to building codes (GOST R 52749-2007), the window should not be recessed into the wall by more than 2/3 of the wall thickness, and in walls with insulation it should be installed in the insulation zone.

Condensation on plastic windows is an unpleasant problem. It should not be ignored. It is important to be attentive to the choice of the seller and the manufacturer, to monitor the installation process and regularly ventilate the room.

They also cry. Based on the Mexican television series on glasses modern houses tears are formed. This is condensate. It is more familiar to old-style windows. Why do some plastic ones not escape the fate, and how to fix the problem?

Causes of condensation on PVC windows

Condensation on plastic windows can accumulate from the side of the room, the street, or inside the double-glazed window. Depending on the localization of moisture, the reasons for its appearance vary. Condensation between plastic windows in about 40% of cases indicates a defective product. Expertise is needed, since in the remaining 60% the problem turns out to be depressurization of windows and poor-quality installation.

So, poor fit around the perimeter of the profile, insufficient insulation of slopes are possible. There is also a discrepancy between the parameters of the frame and the double-glazed window inserted into it. Another reason for the accumulation of water between the panes is the sharp difference in temperature between indoors and outdoors.

So, at +20 degrees in the room, there are 9-9.5 grams of water per cubic meter of air. Accordingly, the total humidity slightly exceeds 54%. However, at +10, the indicator in the room is already 100%. It turns out that with further cooling of the air, moisture will begin to precipitate.

On the street side, condensate accumulates in 70% of cases in the absence of low tides and external window sills. If there are drains, they are installed incorrectly. This is also the reason for moisture condensation on the glass. Drops can also appear in the presence of voids under the window sills, ebbs. Water flows into the cavity, creating an area high humidity near windows.

Fogging of windows from the outside is typical for double-glazed windows filled with argon gas inside. It is heat-saving. Condensation with a certain combination of environmental factors is formed outside of rain and other precipitation. This is what worries consumers, because otherwise water settling on the outer windows is the norm.

Most often, condensation is observed on the glass inside the home. There are 6 reasons for that:

1. Insufficient ventilation. It may be a mistake in the design of the house. In private buildings, many save on ventilation, or make only supply, forgetting about the exhaust.

2. Lack of ventilation. Usually occurs when the ventilation system is broken.

3. Increased indoor humidity. It happens due to prolonged cooking, washing, an abundance of plants. The latter release moisture. Therefore, it is important to consider the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room when filling it with flowers. Do not forget about the working humidifier. The device may also not correspond to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room.

4. Malfunctions in the heating system. Malfunctions lead to temperature drops, and hence the formation of condensate.

5. Shortcomings in the structure of the house. An example is wide window sills. They block the flow of air from radiators or underfloor heating). As a result, the glasses are cooled. This is where condensation forms.

6. Design decoration premises. Not only wide window sills can prevent air circulation, but also, for example, thick curtains.

7. Violations during the installation of double-glazed windows. The most common is insufficient sealing. You can provide it yourself. It is enough to smear the cracks. Fits silicone. If you take white, it will merge with standard plastic.

It remains to mention the errors in the choice of windows by the consumers themselves. There are one-, two-, and three-ampere double-glazed windows. They hold heat in different ways. Single-chamber are recommended for regions with temperatures up to -10 degrees. Installation budget option in other conditions leads to heat loss, the formation of condensate.

For most Russian regions, two-chamber windows or with one chamber, but with argon filling and external silver plating, are ideal. Metal spraying reflects summer heat and prevents room heat from escaping outside in winter. Gas, as mentioned, also works for heat saving. Three-chamber double-glazed windows for the far north.

The cause of condensation, by the way, is the deterioration of double-glazed windows. Argon, for example, do not last longer than 15 years. Often, the gas escapes after 10. Vapors begin to settle on an obsolete product.

What causes condensation

How to remove condensation from plastic windows consumers are interested not only because of aesthetic considerations. Water settling on the windows indicates high humidity, and it is fraught with:

• fungi
• moldy
• proliferation of certain types of bacteria

In contrast to the last point, it is worth mentioning that other harmful strains, such as influenza, on the contrary, are inhibited in a humid environment. Therefore, ill therapists recommend frequent ventilation of the premises. True, the environment for this should be, preferably, also cool.

How to eliminate condensation

Realizing why does condensation form on plastic windows clear ways to eliminate it. So, if drops accumulate from the inside when:

• thick curtains, shorten them or replace them with lighter ones
• wide window sill, you need to narrow it or make ventilation holes in the design
• an abundance of flowers indoors and on windowsills, it is worth redistributing the plants, perhaps selling or donating some
• flaws ventilation system, spend money on it, clean or often ventilate the premises

It is easy to check the operation of the exhaust ventilation by holding a sheet of paper to it. The flow of air leaving the room should press it against the hatch. Otherwise, the system does not function, or its performance is insufficient.

Condensation holes on plastic windows are also the result of ignorance of the insulating glass control system. They have summer and winter modes. The latter assumes maximum fit. Adjustment is carried out using a pin (a rounded piece of hardware with a central screwdriver entry) on the side of the sash.

It turns out that to get rid of condensate, you need to adjust the windows. If condensation accumulates outside windows, it is worth evaluating weather and check for drainage. You may need to install or adjust the latter.

Actions during the accumulation of condensate inside the double-glazed window also follow from the reasons for the formation of drops there. If gaps are visible in the structure, depressurization is likely, improper fitting of the double-glazed window.

If voids are not visible, it is worth calling experts to identify a manufacturing defect. If confirmed, the window will need to be replaced. Conscientious manufacturers pay for it by providing a new product.

September 20, 2016
Specialization: facade finishing, interior decoration, construction of dachas, garages. The experience of an amateur gardener and horticulturist. He also has experience repairing cars and motorcycles. Hobbies: playing the guitar and much more, for which there is not enough time :)

Condensation on windows is a common problem during the cold season. In most cases, you can get rid of it, however, for this you must first determine the cause. To help with this question, in this article I will tell you about the 5 most common causes of condensation and how to eliminate them.

Why does condensation appear

Condensation on the windows must be dealt with immediately, as soon as you notice this trouble. The fact is that this phenomenon indicates an unfavorable microclimate in the room. In addition, condensation leads to the formation of mold, which is hazardous to health.

But, as mentioned above, before dealing with condensate, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence. Most often, windows fog up in the following cases:

Reason 1: poor ventilation in the apartment

First of all, I will say a few words about the nature of the occurrence of condensate on the windows. So, condensate is nothing more than steam, which, upon contact with a cold surface, turns into a liquid state. Since the window glass is usually the coldest surface in the room, the steam settles on them.

This begs the question - where does this steam come from? The fact is that a small amount of moisture is almost always contained in the air. In dwellings, the level of humidity rises during cooking, washing, taking water procedures etc.

Therefore, to maintain an optimal microclimate in housing, there must be ventilation, which ensures the removal of moist air from the room and the inflow of “dry” air. If the ventilation works inefficiently, then it is easy to guess that condensation will accumulate abundantly on the windows.

If you encounter a similar problem, you need to follow these steps:

• first of all, check the operation of the ventilation system. To do this, bring a lit match or a lighter to the ventilation grills - the light should deviate strongly towards the ventilation grill. Otherwise, you need to contact the Housing Office;
• often people are interested in why condensation forms on plastic windows with a well-functioning exhaust hood. The reason for this lies in the lack of fresh air. The fact is that wooden windows less airtight, resulting in air flow natural way, double-glazed windows are hermetic, which leads to the formation of condensate.

To solve this problem, you only need to ventilate the room more often or even install a suction valve.

If you notice that condensation appears on the windows only during cooking, you need to install a hood in the kitchen.

Reason 2: window depressurization

As we found out, condensation on plastic windows from the side of the room can occur as a result of their complete sealing and the lack of fresh air. However, depressurization of windows can also lead to this phenomenon.

Of course, most often wooden windows fog up for this reason, however, double-glazed windows are not immune from such a problem. The fogging process in this case occurs as a result of the fact that cold air enters the housing and greatly cools the windows.

This reason can be easily identified in winter period by the formation of ice on the glass in places of depressurization. This problem is solved as follows:

• the points of contact of the glass with the frames must be smeared with silicone sealant. This procedure can be carried out with both wooden and plastic windows;
• to eliminate the joints of the sashes, special seals should be used, for example, self-adhesive ones. As a rule, this procedure is required for wooden frames.

Note! If condensation appears outside, this is normal and indicates that you have high-quality windows.

Reason 3: wide window sill

As you know, heating radiators are located under each window in an apartment or house. This is done for a reason:

• warm, rising air creates thermal curtain, thereby preventing the penetration of cold from the window into the room;
• radiators heat the window, thereby preventing the formation of condensate.

But what happens if there is a wide window sill above the battery or a thick curtain adjacent to it? That's right, it cuts off warm air from the window, as a result of which the latter is supercooled, and small droplets of water form on it.

If the window sill is plastic or even wooden, then it is not necessary to dismantle it and change it at all. The problem can be solved with your own hands more in a simple way- with the help of special gratings.

Their installation is carried out as follows:

1. First of all, get suitable grilles for the windowsill. They can be of any design and color. Therefore, you can choose products that will also serve as window decoration. The price of gratings averages 300-500 rubles, however, you can find more expensive models, for example, adjustable ones;
2. then you need to cut holes in the window sill according to the size of the gratings, or rather, their fasteners, since the grating overlay should hide the cut lines. For this first mark, then drill a hole according to the size of the hacksaw blade or jigsaw. After that, you need to cut a hole according to the markup;
3. now you just need to insert the gratings into the holes made.

Here, in fact, is the entire instruction for installing gratings on window sills. After this procedure, the glass will begin to heat up and the moisture will disappear.

Reason 4: poorly executed slopes

Often people are interested in why condensation forms on plastic windows from the side of the slopes? The reason in this case lies in the slopes themselves.

If the slopes are plastic, then the problem is solved quite simply and quickly. You just need to do the following:

1. dismantle plastic panels. To do this, you need to carefully tuck them out of the profile and pull them out;
2. space between window frame and the opening should be foamed with high quality. The surface must first be cleaned of dust and moistened;
3. before installing the plastic panels in place, they should be laid in the space between the wall and the slopes mineral wool, which will serve as a heater.

Often people are interested in what to do if condensation appears on single-chamber plastic windows? If the matter is not in the above reasons, then most likely the windows themselves are to blame, which do not provide sufficient thermal insulation. This problem can be temporarily solved only by forced heating, however, it is better to replace the double-glazed windows.

If the slopes are from, then, unfortunately, it will not work to reuse them. In this case, you will have to dismantle them, then insulate the opening and then install new ones. On our portal you can find detailed information about how the installation of slopes from different materials is carried out.

Reason 5: Plants

Often the reason for the fogging of glasses is commonplace - this is the presence a large number plants on the windowsill. The fact is that plants require watering, moreover, they themselves evaporate moisture.

In this case, you need to reduce the number of plants. Especially, give up moisture-loving breeds. It is not necessary to get rid of them completely, but you can only find a more suitable place for them.

Here, in fact, is all the information on how to get rid of condensation on windows.

Output

As we found out, the reasons for the formation of condensate on window panes there are several. Almost all of them are quite simple to eliminate, the main thing is not to delay the solution of this problem. The only serious reason is poor-quality single-chamber glass, so it is better to immediately refuse to purchase them.

For more information, see the video in this article. If you have any problems in the fight against fogging of glasses, leave questions in the comments, and I will be happy to help you.

September 20, 2016

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