Such an unpleasant phenomenon as condensation on the windows appears at any time of the year due to the influence of various factors. Although metal-plastic and wooden products are able to serve for many years, but still people often encounter the appearance of drops on glasses, and then on the windowsill. It is important to understand the cause of this phenomenon and to eliminate it. Why windows “cry” is described in the article.
Physical properties of condensate
Thanks to heating, ice becomes water, and with a decrease in temperature, the reverse process occurs. It is called moisture condensation. High temperature air includes liquid in the form of steam. With cooling, the situation is changing. Air cannot hold much fluid, as it decreases in volume, and moisture remains in areas with lower temperatures.
The glass of the window is considered the coldest place in the house, since it borders on the street, so condensation appears on it. At very low temperatures outside, it becomes icy. At first glance, it may seem that the condensate is not dangerous. But with frequent formation of liquids, building products get wet, after which the weakening of the stiffness of the structure and the formation of mold fungus occur. Therefore, it is important to know why the windows in the house “cry”, as well as how to fix it.
Causes
One of the important functions of windows is the protection of housing from freezing. But not all designs fulfill their mission efficiently, as they are not operated according to the rules. Why do windows “cry”? There are the following reasons for this phenomenon:
- A big difference in temperature inside and outside.
- High humidity inside.
- Wide window sill above the battery.
- Poor ventilation.
- Non-observance of the operating mode of windows.
- Rare ventilation of the room.
- The window is not selected correctly.
- The presence of plants on the windowsills.
There is another reason why windows “cry”. Moisture appears on the glass due to errors during the production of products, as well as inaccuracies in the installation of double-glazed windows. These reasons also concern why wooden windows “cry”.
Ventilation
Even after installing a new window, smudges on the windows and puddles on the windowsills often appear. Why do plastic windows “cry” and what to do in this case? The main task is to normalize the microclimate of the room. It is necessary to reduce humidity and ensure the heating of the inner glass (if the package is two-chamber).
First check if the ventilation works. The system must remove humid air. With clogging, it accumulates inside and then settles on the windows. There is probably dust and dirt inside the air conditioning system, which is why all the work is difficult. Checking the clogging level is not difficult - you need to bring a lit match or lighter to the outlet. If the fire goes out or fluctuates, then the ventilation works, otherwise it needs to be cleaned.
Windowsill
The wide window sill above the heating system prevents proper air circulation. This may also be one of the reasons why windows “cry”. The necessary heat does not enter the structure, and when cooling, water appears on it.
You can fix this problem by reducing the window sill so that the warm air from the battery goes to the window. If possible, extend the radiator. It’s even more convenient to find another window heating method.
Plants
Why do plastic windows sweat and “cry” because of flowers? The presence of plants on the windowsill disrupts the normal circulation of air. Green organisms fill the air with moisture, which causes fogging of the glass. If you remove the plants from the window, you will get rid of the appearance of condensation.
Double-glazed modes
Why do plastic windows “cry” if there are no factors listed above? In all double-glazed windows there are 2 operating modes - summer and winter. If you do not switch from one to another in a timely manner, condensation appears, since the inner side is very cooled.
Before cold weather (in October or November), it is advisable to transfer the product to winter mode. Often condensation appears indoors, where vents rarely open. In this case, it is necessary to ventilate at least 15-20 minutes every day. This ensures not only a good air circulation, which protects against condensation, but also fresh air that positively affects breathing.
You can insulate the space around the window. It is advisable to perform work with drywall. This material has excellent thermal insulation properties. It is necessary to insulate the window slopes, the area under the windowsill, the outer wall. The better the drywall finish, the less the risk of condensation. An increase in temperature in the house leads to insulation of the space near the window. These actions are easily performed independently.
Production and installation of double-glazed windows
Although the installers of plastic windows are professionals, even they get errors. Oversights are also allowed by the residents of the premises where the structures are changing. In this case, you also need to know what to do. Why do windows sweat and “cry”? There are several reasons for this:
- Inaccuracies during the design or manufacture of windows.
- The purchase of the wrong double-glazed window.
- Poor installation.
Poor-quality constructions need to be corrected or disposed of. Buyers should carefully choose windows. If the product will be installed inside rooms or on a loggia, it is necessary to purchase a two-chamber model. Products with 1 camera are ideal for a room bordering a glazed loggia (since it does not need additional insulation).
Due to the economy, many people choose thin glasses, but they will not adequately protect from the cold. In addition, condensation will appear on such products. When plastic products are replaced with wooden ones, you need to prepare for a change in the ventilation mode. PVC is a sealed material that increases the humidity inside, and in the tree there are gaps through which air exchange is carried out.
If you compare the plastic and wooden construction, you can find one difference - the inner glass of the first has a lower temperature, so it condenses faster. Construction errors are as follows:
- Incorrect foaming of cracks.
- The appearance of the "cold bridge" - the area of contact of plastic or wood to the side of the wall with a negative temperature.
- Masonry blowing - appears with the destruction of horizontal or vertical joints between bricks.
If you want to buy a durable product, it is important to control all stages of window installation. Also, do not purchase a wide windowsill. These are the main reasons why windows sweat and “cry”. It is necessary to identify the cause of this phenomenon and eliminate it.
Wooden windows
Wood allows air to pass through better, so condensation appears less on such structures. But if fogging does occur, then to get rid of the problem, one must take into account how they were insulated. To normalize the microclimate in a room with double-glazed windows made of wood, you need to follow simple recommendations:
- Remove the sealant and mounting foam from the top of the frame, look at the condition of the glass. If condensation appears, it is necessary to leave the window box without any removed parts until it is completely dry. The process will be accelerated by blowing with a heat gun, a fan with warm air.
- Condensation may occur due to improper installation of radiators or their poor quality. Often windows sweat and cry because the heat system is far away. To eliminate condensation, it should be moved to double-glazed windows.
- Wood is considered more sensitive to air currents than plastic. Drops on the glass may appear due to the door to the room not being closed or a tap leaking. Do not allow such moisture to enter the air.
- Washed clothes that dry on batteries also adversely affect windows.
- Dense curtains that darken the room increase the likelihood of condensation.
It should be borne in mind that wooden window products are better than PVC, since they form little moisture on the glass. The structure of their surface transmits and evenly distributes heat.
Window processing
Why windows “cry” and what to do in this case, many people are interested. This drawback can be eliminated by regular processing of products:
- If possible, you can purchase special tools designed to eliminate condensate. When applied, they form an invisible film that repels water. You can buy them at household chemical stores. Before use, you must study the instructions.
- An effective method is the treatment of windows with saline. To do this, you need salt (1 tbsp. L.) And water (5 liters). The solution should be filtered, eliminating the undissolved crystals. Then the tool can wipe the window. If stains, white spots appear after processing, a little water is added to the solution, after which you can wipe the structure again.
- Soap solution will do. It will take some water and a detergent. A microfiber cloth should be moistened in a ready-made solution, squeezed and processed the window. Then you need to wash the window with clean water and wipe it with a dry cloth.
- A solution based on water and alcohol. This method should be used when the house is cold. Alcohol must be added a little. The product is easy to apply, creating protection against moisture.
other methods
Here are some more tips:
- You can get rid of condensation with decorative candles. To do this, you need to buy several decorative candles, preferably large ones, light them, install them on the windowsill. It was noticed that air circulation is normalized this way.
- Suitable tool "Second". The liquid should be sprayed onto the problematic structure and then wiped dry with newspapers.
- Fans allow you to normalize the air flow. The device must be directed to the window, and after 10-20 minutes the problem will disappear.
- You can rub the windows with a mixture of glycerol and alcohol. The ratio of substances should be 1:10. Only first you need to wash the windows with warm water, wipe them. After that, you can apply the mixture and leave it without rinsing.
Condensation Considerations
It is important to control the condition of the double-glazed windows, following the rules of stabilization of the microclimate. If you neglect the tips, then even on two-chamber and reliable structures, condensation appears in the winter and at other times of the year. It is necessary to know not only why plastic windows “cry”. How to deal with this is an important issue. The following recommendations should be followed:
- Check ventilation regularly.
- Every day for 10-15 minutes to air the housing.
- Do not select single chamber kits for replacement.
- Monitor the thorough foaming of the joint of the frame and the wall and the rest of the installation steps.
- Do not choose wide window sills that cover the battery.
- If a double-glazed window has several modes, then change them by season.
- Seal slopes.
- Maintain humidity normal - 45-60%.
Apparently, glasses can sweat for various reasons. Following simple rules, you can get rid of condensate. Then the glass will always be clean and beautiful.