“Sweating” Windows: Causes And Damages

Many people, both young and old, will look at windows and wonder why they "sweat". What a layperson does not always understand is that there are many different factors that can play a role in windows sweating. In reality windows sweat isn't really sweat it all but rather forms of water vapor. Without getting too technical water vapor is dependent on both temperature and pressure so different windows in different climates will see different types of window "sweat"at different times of the year. A major factor in water vapor pressure is temperature dependency. This essentially means that as water gets hotter it is more likely to exist in a gaseous form and when cooler is likely to exist in a liquid state or even in a solid-state, more commonly referred to as ice.

Condensation is one of the most common types of windows sweat people will ever see. In some ways the nature of glass is a bit ironic. Glass has a low electrical conductivity but naturally draws in heat which can make them very hot very quickly. As glass heats up rather easily cold-weather outside can have a dramatic effect on windows, especially when the interior of a window is part of a warm or heavily insulated environment. A window that has been warmed by internal temperatures affects any moisture on its exterior resulting in condensation. Depending on the temperature difference condensation may be small beads of water or large moving pools of water. Additionally condensation may also come in the form of fog.

"Breathing" windows are often found in heated homes that have a large number of people residing within. Surprising to many people a large number of people exhaling contributes to the humidity of a homes interior which can lead to build up on the interiors of windows. Many children discover this early on when they put their face just inches from a window and breathe on to them. Their breaths along with the breaths of many individuals living in a home can affect windows over time which causes droplets or a fog to form. This is especially true if the interior of a home is much more humid than the environment outside of the window. Another example of "breathing" windows our shower stalls. People see this nearly every day and is a very good example of how high humidity and temperatures can affect glass/windows.

Unbeknownst to the vast majority of homeowners and even those persons who own commercial structures, the constant and long accumulation of moisture on windows can actually damage windows. Not just the glass itself but the surrounding frame. Frames made of wood as opposed to those made of vinyl or other more durable materials are at even greater risk. Constantly "sweating" windows may be in need of repair and/or replacement much sooner than homeowners and owners of commercial structures would prefer them to be. Doing everything one can to prevent excessive water vapor on their windows will help them remain in good condition for years and even decades at a time.

Stanley Window Care specializes in Orange County window cleaning, Huntington Beach window cleaning, and Ladera Ranch window cleaning.