Why Your Windows are Foggy & How to Fix it
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Instead of peering through clear glass and enjoying your home's scenic surroundings, are you left trying to look through dirty, drippy, fogging glass?
Have you ever wondered why this happens?
Why is my window fogging up?
Double pane windows are typically insulated with Argon gas, and the spacer in the window seals the window keeping the gas intact. When that seal breaks (often referred to as seal failure), the gas rushes out and wind and water squeeze their way in. This causes unsightly condensation between the glass.
Solutions to a faulty window seal
This is different from weather-related condensation (more on this below) that occurs just on the inside or outside of the glass. Once your window experiences seal failure, you have two options:
Suffer with not being able to see out of it
Replace your window
DID YOU KNOW…glass packages with metal and aluminum spacers in them will fail. It doesn’t matter if your house is 3 years old, or if you just had the “best” windows put in 10 years ago.
Look closely at the bottom of your glass. See that silver metal? That right there is contributing to seal failure.
In fact, independent tests performed by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) test how long each type of window spacer is expected to last. Windows that use metal or aluminum spacers are proven to fail in as little as 3 years, and in some cases, have lasted as long as 27 years.
When you're shopping for replacement windows, focus on finding a quality product at a great price.
Quality starts with the right spacer system. Choose a window with a warm edge super spacer. The super spacer is a flexible material that can actually move with your glass package, allowing it to last 70-100 years longer than any other spacer on the market.
What if my newly installed windows are fogging up?
We all know that brand new windows reduce drafts—which make our home more energy efficient and keep us more comfortable.
So then, why do we sometimes see more window condensation on the inside of our newly replaced windows?
Easy. It means they're working. Weird answer, right?
#1 Cause of Condensation in New Windows: Humidity
Energy efficient windows might fog up if your indoor humidity is high.
Remember when you had those old drafty windows? The normal moisture in your home (from showering, cooking, breathing, etc.) would escape right outside.
Your new, custom-sized energy efficient windows are just keeping everything inside.
They're blocking air movement between the inside and outside of your home. This is a good thing! They're also lowering your heating and cooling costs, and keeping your home at a comfortable temperature.
When the temperatures outside get colder and the humidity inside your home increases, you might notice more window condensation.
Obviously, we can't control the outside temperatures, but we can control the humidity levels in our homes. Therefore, if you do see some indoor condensation, or you want to make sure you don't get any, keep reading!
5 tips for reducing indoor humidity
Turn off your indoor humidifier.
Ventilate your home regularly. Open it up for a few minutes each day.
Run your exhaust fans more often, and for longer.
Add a basement dehumidifier.
Make sure your clothes dryers are adequately vented.
Remember, this is different from seeing the buildup of moisture between window panes of glass. This scenario (as mentioned above) indicates that your windows have failed, and it's time to start thinking about replacement windows.
Dealing with foggy, double-pane windows? Install new ones with Steve
When this happens, contact Steve the Window Guy for a free, no obligation estimate. As an authorized dealer of Universal Windows Direct, we offer windows styles and options for every home, and our factory direct pricing will save you money.
To learn more about how we can help, contact us today!
