Mold on Windows from Condensation

While cooking or showering, warm moist air is released in your home. Naturally, the air wants to escape, so it moves to the window. If the window is colder than the moist air, condensation will occur. When this happens regularly, it becomes quite the annoyance.

Condensation may seem harmless at first, however, the dampness around the window may be the cause of mold. I guess that’s what happened to you, otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. So, we’ll be making a guide on how to deal with mold on windows from condensation.

The cause of the condensation is most likely the warm air from the kitchen or shower. Check for other sources of moisture. Proper ventilation will reduce moisture so you can get rid of the mold.

A thorough answer follows, keep reading.

How does condensation happen?

You may have noticed that in the winter, car windows become foggy. The same thing happens with the windows in your home. The thing is, cars have heating which deals with the condensation fast enough.

When warm moist air meets cold air, a vapor occurs. This is what condensation is in broad terms. Usually, it happens in winter, when the temperatures are low. I’m sure your home has a good heating system but the windows will remain cold.

The air in your home isn’t naturally moist (except if you live in that kind of an area). So, moist air must come from somewhere. That excess air most often comes from the kitchen or the bathroom. Windows in the winter are rarely opened, so the warm air can’t escape.

That warm moist air meets the window’s cold surface, and that’s why windows condensate. Check out our guide on whether and when opening windows reduces damp.

Now you understand the process behind condensation. Is it dangerous, and is there anything you can do about it?

Is condensation around windows dangerous?

Whether the condensation will be dangerous depends on the frequency of the occurrence. If it happens once a month, you have nothing to worry about. If it becomes a regularity, you need to step in.

Foggy windows are not that dangerous, especially if you have PVC windows. The condensation is dangerous with wooden windows. The moisture may cause the wood to rot. Because fungi spread fast, mold may appear on your walls. A good idea is to add preservative to your wooden windows. This will stop any decaying.

However, regular recurrence of condensation is harmful, no matter the material of the window. Continuous condensation means continuous moisture. In due time, the moisture will spread to the wall around the window. Surely, there is a food source nearby, so fungi will appear for sure.

All in all, condensation on windows is something to keep an eye on. If it happens more often than you would like, take preventive steps.

Let’s see what you can do about it.

How to stop condensation on windows?

As we said, the excess warm moist air comes from the kitchen or the shower. So, stopping the condensation means dealing with the moist air. Most apartments have fans both for the kitchen and the shower.

Now, houses are more prone to condensation. Houses depend on natural ventilation which isn’t as efficient if not constructed properly. Vacation houses are also prone to mold from condensation.

Install fans for the kitchen and the shower. A kitchen ventilator and a shower fan are quite useful units. Whenever you take a shower or you cook, just turn on the fan. This will get rid of that warm moist air. Buying a fan with different power settings is also a good idea.

Open windows when the weather outside is warm. Opening windows works only if the temperatures outside are warm. The warm moist air will go out and dry warm air will enter your house. However, if the air outside is cold or you live in moist areas, opening windows doesn’t work.

Run a dehumidifier. When dealing with any kind of water damage, a dehumidifier is always handy. It’s a really good way to control the moisture in your house. If you notice condensation on your windows, run a dehumidifier. This will prevent any mold growth. It’s really useful for flooded basements too.

Plan out your kitchen so it will be naturally ventilated. This isn’t an option for most of you, seeing as how you can’t change your kitchen. However, if you’re thinking about building a house, planning for ventilation is a must.

These are the common ways to get rid of the moisture in your house. You still have that mold to deal with though.

How to get rid of mold on windows?

Keep in mind, getting rid of mold is only useful if condensation will not happen again. So, deal with the moisture first.

Eliminating mold on wooden windows is different than on walls. Condensation can decay wooden windows, and cause mold on the walls around. We’ll offer a solution for both cases.

Getting rid of mold on walls

Fortunately, you can do this with a common household item, a bleach detergent. Bleach is a good way to kill mold on impermeable surfaces.

Follow this recipe for the detergent: one cup of bleach for every gallon of water.

Pour the bleach on the mold area of the wall. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then thoroughly scrub with a sponge. You will want to repaint the wall after that.

Getting rid of wood rot

Bleach isn’t useful with wood rot. The fungus can spread inside the wood. You need something dissolvable with water which the wood will soak up. Dry rot is usually treated with borate and ethylene glycol.

Pour one of the chemicals on the decaying wood and let it soak. This will not help with dry rot though. You may want to add a preservative after this. The chemicals will kill the fungus and stop decay.

Nothing more to add guys. Good luck fixing the issue.

Related questions

Is condensation on windows harmful to your health?

Only if mold occurs. Especially black mold. Other types of mold are dangerous only to those that are allergic to mold or have asthma. Either way, get rid of the mold.

Can vinegar kill mold?

It can be used as an alternative for bleach. Use strong vinegar and let it sit for an hour then scrub. Tip: Use a spray bottle to avoid damaging healthy parts.