Condensation

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Whats The Causes Solutions How To Stop Condensation

Condensation on Double Glazing
What is Double Glazing?

Double Glazing is a system of window design in which two panes of glass are sealed together, separated by an insulating void. The insulating void could be a vacuum or an inert gas like Argon. Double glazing is highly effective as it considerably improves the energy efficiency of the room, reduces air conditioning costs, with huge savings on electricity bills. Further double glazing makes the house more secure and is great from the safety point of view. Also, double glazed windows are highly attractive and increase the value of your house considerably

What is Condensation on Double Glazing?

The issue that many people have with double glazing is that over a period of time, moisture starts appearing in between the glass panes, especially if there is a breakdown in the seal that holds the glass panes together. The effect of condensation on double glazing is the fogging up of the window, with water vapor condensing inside. This makes the window panes lose their clarity, becoming foggy, misty and steamy, making the double glazing much less attractive than when it was first installed.

What causes Condensation on Double Glazing?

Condensation on double glazing is because of many reasons, but the most common cause of the problem is wear and tear of the double glazing unit over a period of years. This is because of the constant changes in temperature that causes the glasses used in the double glazing to expand when the surrounding temperature is hotter, and contract when colder. As the glass panes expand and contract over a period of years, this causes the seal holding them together to weaken considerably before breaking apart. A gap is created and this leads to water vapor entering space between the glass panes and condensing into water droplets as they come in contact with the cold surface of the glass. This is how condensation on double glazing is caused, and once it happens, it's not an easy problem to solve.

There are other reasons for the condensation on double glazing as well, such as using a particularly abrasive chemical solution to clean the windows, which eats away at the seal holding the glass panes together. Another common reason is faulty installation of the double glazing right at the very beginning. So it is critical to get the installation of double glazing for your windows done by qualified professionals, otherwise you may end up facing several problems later with it.
How to Fix Condensation on Double Glazing?
There isn't a perfect repair for condensation on double glazing, and if the windows are particularly old, it is best to get them completely replaced and have new a double glazing unit installed. But it is important that the new double glazed windows are installed by experts as it is a specialist's job. Never try to do it on your own, regardless of the considerable savings that you may get out of it.
But if the windows are relatively new, or if you will be shifting to another house shortly, it makes better sense to get a repair done on the double glazing than to get it replaced. A repair isn't perfect, but it is a lot cheaper than a re-installation of the windows. Double glazing condensation repair basically involves the technicians cleaning the little air holes dotting the inside of the double glazing, removing all the moisture and repairing the drainage system within the windows so that it is easier for the water entering the windows to flow out as well.
Guarantees / Warranties on Double Glazed Windows
As said earlier, the best solution to condensation on double glazing is to re-install the double glazing. But this doesn’t come cheap and professional window installers charge heavily for the job. While nothing much can be done about this, it would help greatly if there is some sort of a manufacturer's warranty or guarantee on your double glazing unit. Many manufacturers of double glazing units offer a guarantee where they get the entire unit replaced at no additional cost in case of condensation on the double glazing. Other manufacturers offer more limited warranties. If you are considering getting double glazing installed at your home for the first time, you should study the guarantees or warranties by the manufacturers closely, before making the purchase.

Condensation anywhere in the house is a menace a nuisance and very damaging to the very fabric of your home, it causes unsightly damp patches at best and very expensive major refurbishment plastering and decoration at worst. Just take a look at the pictures below to see how bad it can get when left to it's own devices. You can read about condensation on the room side of the glass, condensation within the cavity as the pictures below,and when condensation occurs on the outside surface of the glass.