News: How To Prevent Conservatories From Developing Condensation

Condensation can start as a minor inconvenience in a conservatory, leading to a temporary annoying mist on the glass in the early hours. Eventually, it becomes completely intolerable as windows steadily drip, furniture becomes damp, and the conservatory develops a stale, musty odour. If you are currently experiencing this, know that you are not alone; this is one of the most reported conservatory problems in the UK, though the solutions are actually fairly simple if you know the causes.

What Is Condensation?

Generally, condensation occurs when a surface collects warm, moist air, and that surface has a cold temperature. The air then cools and its moisture is shed and collected as water on the glass panels, window frames, or even the roof. This process can be seen in the steam that collects on a bathroom mirror or droplets that form on a cold glass of water.

This phenomenon is even more likely to occur in a conservatory because, in essence, a conservatory is just one large glass box. Due to its high surface area to volume ratio, glass can quickly lose heat, and the surfaces inside a conservatory can be cold enough to develop condensation, even if the air temperature outside the conservatory is not very low.

Two Types of Conservatory Condensation

While it is important to understand that not all condensation is the same, it is even more important to know that the type of condensation you are experiencing will dictate the solution to the condensation problem.

The Internal condensation forms on the interior layer of the conservatory glass and is often the more troublesome of the two, as it indicates that humidity levels within the conservatory have exceeded the optimum levels compared to the glass’s surface temperatures.

External condensation occurs on the outside of the glass and may especially be seen on self-cleaning and solar control glazing. Paradoxically, the glass is probably performing well, as the outer pane is sufficiently insulating and remaining cool enough for ambient moisture to settle on the glass during the night or in the early morning. Typically, the moisture evaporates and, in the morning, all that’s needed is a wipe.

Unlike the other forms of condensation, interstitial condensation (between the glass panes in a sealed double-glazed unit) is indicative of the unit’s failure and the glass needs to be replaced.

Why It Gets Worse at Certain Times

The problem seems to get worse in the autumn and winter months and during cool, damp, and mild weather. This is because of the larger temperature differential between the indoors and outdoors. It is also because people tend to use the conservatory less (resulting in more stagnant air). Finally, the way the conservatory is heated plays a role. If the conservatory is heated less frequently, the air in the conservatory is cycled between warm and cold.

Other activities around the house can also cause condensation. Cooking, drying laundry, and even showering add moisture to the air. When that moisture-dense air enters a cold conservatory with little ventilation, it will condense on the glass.

What You Can Do

There is no one single quick fix to the problem, but combining a few different approaches is usually enough to bring condensation under control.

Add more ventilation. The best thing most people can do to prevent condensation is open their home’s windows. Doing so lets wet air escape and brings in drier air. If having to open the windows to ventilate your home is a daily hassle, you can consider having trickle vents installed.

Utilise a dehumidifier. If your conservatory is a little less frequently used, then having a portable dehumidifier can make a significant improvement, especially during the colder months, as they pull moisture out of the air and automatically switch off when they reach the set humidity level.

Remove the Things That Are Causing Extra Moisture. Plants especially cause even more humidity because they transpire water. You do not need to get rid of all your plants. It is something to keep in mind. It is especially the case if you have a lot of condensation.

Inspect the glazing. Older, single-glazed conservatories will be more prone to condensation than modern, double, or triple-glazed structures. If you're dealing with older conservatories, replacing the glass will help as the inner pane will be warmer & condensation will form at a higher temperature.

When to Call Someone In

If the above hasn't worked and you have condensation on damp on your walls, frames, or elsewhere, you're better off calling in a professional. Continuous damp can be a sign of drainage issues, a failed sealant, poor installation, and ventilation will not help in any of these cases.

Though most cases of condensation are manageable with a little more effort towards controlling the airflow or temperature, it does help to understand what's going on. It will give you a sense of control over the situation, making the problem that much more bearable.

To arrange a free, no obligation assessment of your conservatory roof, give us a call on 01604 713 335. We'll discuss your options and how we can create the perfect conservatory for your home.