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We just moved here from the North and this morning I noticed condensation on the outside of some of my windows. (New construction). I've only seen this before when a sealed window has lost it's seal and the inside air has been able to reach the outside window pane.
'net research says condensation also happens when a well sealed window cools overnight to a temp low enough to allow the dew to condense on the window.
Questions - Is morning condensation on 'good' windows normal here?
Is there a way to tell if this is due to an ok sealed window performing properly or an broken window?
I'm pretty sure the answer is, "welcome to the world of high humidity/high dew points" - the dew point here can get into the 70s - and if your house is cooler than the dew point, you'll get condensation/dew on your windows.
I'm pretty sure the answer is, "welcome to the world of high humidity/high dew points" - the dew point here can get into the 70s - and if your house is cooler than the dew point, you'll get condensation/dew on your windows.
Right-O!
How low do you have the AC set?
When I have the car temperature right, my glasses fog up when I get out.
When I have the car temperature right, my glasses fog up when I get out.
Hmmm... but if I have double pane thermal window, shouldn't the inside temp not matter? (BTW - around 74 degrees.)
Unlike the 'glass of iced tea' example people on the 'net always give, my inside pane of glass should have an insulating layer of air between it and the outside pane of glass, thus, preventing (I thought) the cold inside glass from affecting the warmer outside glass.
Up north, if you have double pane windows and get condensation *inside* in the winter - it means a problem - the cold outside air is reaching the inside window pane and allowing the inside damp air to condense. Properly sealed double pane windows give no inside condensation in the winter. Shouldn't it be the same here for the summer?
An article on the 'net mentioned sometimes here the outside window pane itself can cool overnight to a temp low enough to cause dew to condense in the morning. Is that what's happening?
If this is normal, that's fine. But if the windows are having a problem, I'd like to bring it to the builders attention while he's still onsite.
You should be concerned only if the moisture is inside, between the panes of glass. That would mean that the edge gasket/seals have failed and allowed air (with moisture) inside, which has now condensed.
Moisture on the outside is very normal, and the window systems should be designed to handle it, just like it should be designed to handle being rained on.
Moisture on the inside should be something for you to worry about, not because of the window, but because it means that the inside is humid enough so that objects that are cooler than the inside dewpoint (the temperature at which water starts to condense out of the air). This can be caused by several things, most bad.
It can be caused by the inside having a high humidity (taking a long hot shower with the door open?), or such. Also, if the inside has only moderate levels of humidity, but the windows insulative properties are too low, say if it's an old single-pane glass, then the inside edge of the glass could be could enough to be below the dewpoint of the inside air, and again condensation will start to form. This is of concern not so much about the window, but that there might be other places that get this cool, and condensation could form. Say inside walls or such. This could be the start of mold or mildue problems.
Yeah I have been getting condensation on some of my exterior window surfaces as well. It's not normal but it's been very very humid lately. I keep my house 74 as well.
When I was in florida for a few months it was like that every afternoon after the showers. Windows would mist right up.
If it is a broken window seal...you'll see the "condensation" 24/7. It will look like a dirty smudge that you can't get clean.
You have a 1 year warranty with new construction so keep your eye on it and see if it disappears. Most of the new windows of today have a warranty from the company, as well.
Vicki
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