A conservatory can be a great addition to anyone’s home. It will increase the amount of space and natural light in your property and can even add value to it.
However, conservatories are less of an advantage in the winter. They can often be chilly and tend to suffer from condensation.
Conservatory condensation can be a big problem if left to accumulate. Read on to learn more about condensation and how to prevent it from building up in your conservatory.
What’s condensation?
Condensation is created when water vapour in the air turns to small, liquid droplets. This usually happens when warm air becomes cold very quickly.
Condensation appears in your conservatory when warm air comes in to contact with cold glass. It’s found specifically on window panes because glass tends to be colder than most other home surfaces. Condensation is particularly common in conservatories then because they’re made out of a lot of glass.
Conservatory condensation occurs most frequently in the winter. This is because conservatories tend to be used less frequently in cold weather and the air inside them remains static. This means that the water vapour in the air can’t escape through air circulation and ends up condensing on the windows. Condensation build up can result in mould growth, so should be prevented if possible.
How can I prevent condensation in my conservatory?
There are lots of different things you can do to prevent condensation building up in your conservatory. These include:
Keeping it ventilated
Leaving one of your conservatory windows open occasionally will allow air circulation and avoid a build-up of water vapour in the air.
Removing any plants
Plants can cause a lot of condensation. Moving your plants into the main part of your home during the colder months will help to prevent water collecting on your conservatory windows.
Not using it as a laundry
If you hang wet laundry in your conservatory, you’re bringing water into the atmosphere. Hanging your washing in a different area of the house will help to keep the air in your conservatory relatively dry and prevent condensation.
Keeping it warm
You can also avoid condensation by heating your conservatory. This only has to be periodically and at a moderate heat – just enough to keep the glass relatively warm so water droplets don’t appear.
Installing a dehumidifier
An ideal way to reduce conservatory condensation is to install a dehumidifier. This will suck the moisture out of the air before it settles on your windows.
Ensuring your windows have trickle vents
Trickle vents are small holes that allow air to move between the inside and outside of your windows without making your home cold. Effective trickle vents will allow some of the moisture in your conservatory to escape before it turns into water droplets.
Following some of these tips should help you to reduce the amount of condensation in your conservatory and keep it in good condition during the winter.