Condensation in your windows occurs when there is moisture present in between your window panes. This moisture leads to foggy windows that are difficult to see through. Foggy windows occur when there’s a temperature difference between the air and the surface or between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, leading to humidity, which turns into condensation, which results in fog between your window panes. 

While some forms of window condensation inside are nothing to worry about, foggy windows can pose a problem depending on where they’re foggy.

Interior Window Condensation

If the interior of your windows are foggy, this doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s an issue with your window itself. Interior window condensation can result from houseplants located too close to your windows, humidity from showers or air-drying your clothes inside, and simple temperature differences between the inside and the outside. 

Foggy windows on the interior side of the glass can be resolved through a dehumidifier, moving houseplants, and using fans when cooking or showering. Sometimes, though, this is a result of a failing seal, which allows outside air to leak into your home. Regardless the reason, you’ll want to take the necessary steps to reduce humidity in your home and resolve those foggy windows in order to prevent the growth of mold and mildew and potential other problems. 

Fog In Between The Window Panes

Foggy windows are more than an inconvenience, especially if the fog occurs in between your window panes. This kind of foggy window happens when the seal in between the glass panes fails, which allows for moisture to seep into the space between them. With temperature differences, this results in fog inside the glass of your windows. 

Double-paned windows have a space in between the panels of glass in order to better insulate your home. This airspace helps to reduce potential air leaks which can lead to heat loss and help your home maintain a consistent temperature. Because of this airspace, windows have both an inner and outer seal in order to both secure the window in place and to prevent any moisture from seeping into the airspace. 

If the seals fail, this allows for moisture to seep in between the panes of your window, which results in foggy windows. Since the fog happens inside your windows, this is not condensation that can be wiped away or fixed with a dehumidifier. If your window seals fail, this means that you need to have them either repaired or replaced in order to resecure your windows and keep the airspace in between your windows free of moisture in order to ensure good visibility and that your home will stay at a consistent temperature. 

Why Window Seals Fail

While more common in older windows, seal failure can occur with any window, due to exposure to the elements, aging which leads to hardening and cracking, and water retention. Window seals can stretch with too much heat due to the fact that hot air expands, resulting in the air in between your window panes expanding and putting pressure on the window seals. Water can also impact your window seal because water buildup damages them. Over time, with use and exposure to the elements, this takes a toll on your window seals, leading to failure.

When window seals fail, this allows for moisture to enter that airspace in between the panes, leading to foggy windows. 

How To Fix Foggy Windows

If your window seals fail, this is a very fixable issue. Generally, if it is just the window seal causing the fog in between panes, you can replace the window or repair the window seal. You want to make sure that your replacement windows are installed correctly and that the glass is good quality in order to provide the best protection against foggy windows.

Energy-efficient windows can last a long time, making it so that your home is insulated for years to come. These windows will prevent fog as well as provide many other useful benefits, such as lowering your energy bills. 

You want your windows to last and do their job properly. If there’s fog inside your windows, they aren’t performing as well as they should. A professional can come out to fix or replace your windows so that their security and functionality is restored.

Do You Have Foggy Windows?

Peak Windows provides professional window repair and replacement services to fix your foggy windows. If you have foggy windows, give us a call and we can come out and get your windows back in working order. For more information or if you would like to learn about our many other services, please contact us at Peak Windows today!