If you live in a cold climate, you probably wake up to frost blanketing the landscape often. But what happens when you find some of that frost on the inside of your double-pane windows? Once you know what causes frost on the inside and outside of windows, you can try a few simple fixes to get a clear view of the landscape again.
Is It Normal to Have Frost on the Inside of Your Windows?
If you live in an older home with extremely cold temperatures outside, condensation and moisture can collect on the glass and freeze into a layer of ice. While this may be normal in some older homes, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry about it. Ice and frost can damage wood when melted.
Along with warping the wood around your window frame or any wooden furniture you have around the window, melted ice and frost can cause discoloration. Untreated water damage and moisture can eventually lead to mold, which is unsightly and can affect your health.
What Causes Frost on the Inside of Windows?
Excess humidity and air leaks are two common causes of frost forming inside windows. Both of these causes can lead to imbalances in your room’s moisture levels, which can turn into ice crystals and frost when the conditions are right.
For example, when extremely cold air outside meets the much warmer, more humid air inside your home, water vapor forms. This vapor, which is the moisture in your room’s air, is drawn from the windowpane and turns into liquid whenever the temperature drops below the dew point. Frost forms on the inside of your windows when this water freezes.
How Do You Get Rid of Frost on the Inside of Windows?
First, determine whether the frost is caused by excess humidity or an air leak. If the frost stems from high humidity levels, you can run a dehumidifier inside. If there is an air leak, you’ll want to find the source of the leak and caulk and dry seal the opening.
You can take many different steps to get rid of the frost on the inside of your windows. Some other tips to reduce and remove frost include:
- Running exhaust fans inside whenever you are showering or cooking.
- Increasing the heat setting inside.
- Installing a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) to help recirculate the air.
How Do I Get Rid of Frost on the Outside of Windows?
Just like with interior window frost, you can prevent outside frost from forming by monitoring your humidity levels inside. Dry air greatly reduces the chances of frost forming. You can also try running a space heater and weatherizing your windows to add a barrier against the cold.
While getting rid of the frost on the inside of your windows should be your top priority, there are many different ways to remove exterior window frost too. This frost typically forms whenever the widow is colder than the dew point, which is why changing your indoor humidity levels can help combat exterior window frost.
Homespire Windows and Doors Offers a Long-Term Solution to Frost Control
If frost is still covering your windows after trying different methods, it may be time to replace your single-pane windows with new double-pane windows to add an additional layer of protection between the warmer interior temperature and colder exterior temperature.
At Homespire, you’ll find a wide range of windows designed to withstand the cold and harsh winters. Each window is hand-made using the highest quality, American materials to ensure that it will deliver optimal protection, warmth, and energy efficiency.
With our Signature Warranty, which covers both materials and labor, you can trust that you’ll receive a quality product that has been personalized to meet your needs.
Contact Homespire Today for Custom, Energy-Efficient Windows
We have over 25 years of home improvement experience and take pride in our custom window solutions and efficient installation process, which allows us to install up to eight windows a day.
From purchasing your windows to their installation, our team will be by your side to answer any questions you might have. If you are ready to protect your tri-state region home this winter season, we are here to help. Give us a call at 1-833-684-1873 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free, in-home window analysis.
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