Conservatories are a popular and relatively affordable way to add an eye-catching extension on to the home. They’re particularly useful in the summer months, but can be enjoyed year-round. Often used as places for the family to gather, eat, rest, and even more recently, work; it’s important to keep your conservatory in top shape so you can continue to enjoy the benefits of this extra space for years down the line.
One frequent issue that conservatory owners have to deal with is condensation, which often becomes worse as the winter months roll in. While condensation can happen on any window in the home, its effects are more noticeable within conservatories. Windows are the main feature within this area of the home, so any condensation in a conservatory can lead to even bigger issues such excess build up of mould.
To limit condensation, there are a few measures you can take. There are also a couple of things you can do to manage condensation if you notice it’s already forming. Here’s our guide on how to prevent condensation in a conservatory.
What Does Condensation in Your Conservatory Mean?
Any condensation in a conservatory should be looked at as soon as possible. This can help stop other problems caused by the additional moisture present. Should this condensation spread, it can cause a number of potentially serious issues later down the line.
Damp & Mould
One of the more severe problems condensation can cause is damp and mould. Nobody wants to spend time in a mouldy room, and it can be a time-consuming issue to get rid of once it spreads.
Damage To Property
Damp and mould spots aren’t just limited to the space directly around your windows. The damp can spread into your walls and furniture, causing corrosion and decay to paint work, wallpaper, curtains and blinds.
Health Concerns
More concerningly, condensation and the resulting mould that occurs can have a negative impact on you and your family’s health. Mould and fungal growth can produce toxins that can cause several respiratory issues such as asthma and rhinitis.
Slip Hazards
As condensation and damp grows, or as your double glazing deteriorates further, leakages can happen. This is more of a concern within conservatories due to the placement of windows on the roof of the conservatory, allowing any leaks to drip directly onto the floor or items below. This can lead to a slip hazard, especially if you have younger children.
The best option is to tackle the problem at the source before this can happen, and try to prevent condensation from occurring in the first place.
What Causes Condensation in Conservatories?
Condensation occurs when there is a contrast in temperature, a build up of moisture, and a lack of ventilation in a room to control this. As the air cools outside it is more likely that condensation will occur in your conservatory. Less ventilation means moisture can build up in the air, as doors and windows being kept shut more often in colder months leaves humidity with nowhere to go.
As the moisture in the room grows, the air will eventually reach its dew point. This is where the water vapour present turns into moisture and condenses on the coolest surface, which is most often the windows. So, what are the leading causes of condensation in your conservatory?
- Winter months – we try to keep the warm air in and end up reducing the amount of ventilation in the home. In trying to reduce growing energy costs, it makes sense that we’ll keep doors and windows closed to reduce the amount of cold air in the house. Try airing out your conservatory by opening windows when you can.
- Eco-friendly homes – many new additions to our homes, especially conservatories, are built with the environment in mind. This is a good step forward for the planet; however, our increasingly air-tight homes also mean ventilation is reduced.
- Everyday activity – as humans, we are constantly producing water vapour throughout the day, simply by breathing. Conservatories attached to a kitchen may have more condensation as we cook, while other daily activities inevitably bring more water vapour into the room without us realising. Many people dry clothes in conservatories due to the increased exposure to sunlight – but this water vapour needs to go somewhere. Try considering how your habits can have an impact on condensation.
How Can You Prevent Condensation?
There are a variety of methods to help prevent condensation in your conservatory. Below are a number of ways you can try to nip condensation in the bud before it becomes a bigger problem:
- Trickle Vents – Trickle vents allow air to flow into your home at a slower rate, allowing for ventilation but without inviting in a draught.
- Avoid Drying Clothes – As mentioned above, when drying your clothes, the water they hold when they come out of the wash has to go somewhere for them to dry. As they dry the water evaporates into the air increasing the amount of water vapour in the air and increasing the likelihood of condensation in your conservatory. If possible, it is best to dry your clothes outside.
- Use a Dehumidifier – Dehumidifiers draw air in from the environment and strip the moisture out, collecting it inside the machine or gadget. They can be relatively cheap to purchase and come in a number of sizes, so you don’t necessarily need a large machine sat in your conservatory. Dehumidifiers are one of the best methods for reducing condensation.
- Condensation Catchers – Smaller than a dehumidifier but with a similar effect, condensation catchers help capture excess moisture in the air. While they’re effective, they often only last 8 – 12 weeks before needing to be replaced. They may be more ideal for short term use until a longer-term solution such as a dehumidifier or vent can be purchased.
- Allow for Airflow – While it may not be ideal in the cooler months as you aim to keep your conservatory warm, opening your windows or doors for a short period of time each day can help if you can stand the cold for a couple of hours. Allowing excess air to escape can be greatly beneficial in preventing condensation. Even if it’s just opening the doors between your conservatory and your house, or opening the windows a bit when you’re out of the house, the increase in airflow can reduce the build up of excess moisture and protect your conservatory.
- Check your Windows – Your windows might be the source of condensation build up in your conservatory. If you feel a draught, damp, or have steamed up windows, you might need to have your double glazing repaired by a specialist. Read on to find out how to check your conservatory windows properly.
How Can Condensation Be Dealt With?
Taking the above precautions to help reduce the formation of condensation can help. But once you already have quite a bit of condensation, it becomes obvious there’s a build-up of moisture in the home already.
These recurrent issues with condensation might be due to failed double glazing within your conservatory. If this is the case, you can take all the other preventative steps in the world – but you’ll still struggle to keep condensation at bay. To make sure your windows are in top condition, it’s important to check them regularly.
- Look for any gaps on the opening sash windows.
- Check for leaks around your windows.
- If there are noticeable draughts, look for the source.
Fix Conservatory Condensation with Cloudy2Clear
If you do need help fixing your conservatory condensation issue, we can help. Taking care of condensation and taking measures to prevent it can save you money (and a lot of frustration!) in the long run. At Cloudy2Clear, we work in over 35 areas nationwide to help fix conservatories and reduce condensation in the home. We’re so confident in the quality of our double glazing repair work, we offer a 25-year guarantee for our services.
Responsible conservatory repair specialists will try to conserve your conservatory as best they can, replacing only the parts that do need fixing. At Cloudy2Clear, we first carefully diagnose the issue – whether it’s the frame or the seal – and we quote you for the necessary repairs. This saves materials and money!
Keep your conservatory in great condition with us. We’ll fix the source of your condensation while it’s still manageable. To arrange a free consultation with one of our specialist engineers, call us now on 0800 61 21 119. You can also fill out our online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.