Moisture, Humidity, and Replacement Windows

Foggy windows, damp walls, and the general feeling of moisture and clamminess in the air are the telltale signs of extra moisture in your home. But what is this extra moisture? Where does it come from? How bad can extra moisture be for the replacement windows on your San Jose, CA home?

If you remember from science class, condensation is the result of water vapor in the air changing into liquid. When there’s lots of extra water in the air in your home, you not only feel it in the air, but you also notice lots of condensation on your windows, walls, and other surfaces. While homes normally get extra moisture from the changing of the season, there are other activities that can increase your indoor humidity level like cooking or boiling water, hot showers, humidifiers, and houseplants. Even if you recently installed new replacement windows, you might still be experiencing extra humidity because your old windows allowed moisture in through cracks, holes, or loss installation.

Now that you have new windows, that moist outside air is trapped inside because the new windows are forming a seal against the outside elements. So, how will you get rid of that extra moisture and humidity?

1. Open Vents and Louvres – Lots of attics, basements, and window treatments have louvers or vents you can use to help ventilate your home. Double-check to make sure they’re working properly, and open them as needed. Don’t forget about your fireplace dampers. You can open those too to let out even more damp air.
2. Check Ventilation – Make sure all your ventilation sources are working properly, including the fans in your oven, microwave, bathroom, and laundry room. Don’t forget to turn them on when necessary to keep moisture from building up inside.
3. Consolidate Your Plants – While beautiful, houseplants do increase indoor humidity. Try keeping them all in one room or in one area of the house to consolidate this extra humidity and make it easier to ventilate as needed.
4. Check Your Humidifier – If you’re using a humidifier, check the settings to make sure you’re not pumping out too much moisture. The ideal humidity level, depending on the outside temperature, is between 30% and 50%.
5. Open Your Windows – Open your windows for a few minutes during the day to let out trapped humidity and let in fresh, dry air.

There are lots of other factors that come into play when it comes to indoor humidity. If you’ve tried everything you can think of to get rid of your extra moisture, think outside the box. For example, how many windows you have in your home, the type of heating system you use, and the insulation or vapor barriers you have in your walls might be affecting your condensation levels. If you find that none of the remedies, we’ve suggested are making an impact, it may be time to contact a licensed HVAC professional to discuss other solutions.

We are here to help if you want more ideas or information on San Jose, CA replacement windows. Call or visit us today as there are lots of ways to reduce moisture in your home.