Moisture is present in all homes, but when it becomes excessive, homeowners need to take an active role in protecting their investment.

Humidity and Condensation

Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.

Condensation is water that forms when warm, moist air hits a cooler surface. In homes, it might occur on surfaces such as windows, bathroom walls and cold-water pipes.

When interior humidity levels are too high relative to cooler outdoor temperatures, condensation can form on the coldest surface in a room often the glass in a window or door. While windows and doors do not cause condensation, they may be one of the first places it shows up.

What Causes Condensation?

Excess humidity is typically the cause of condensation. There are many sources for moisture in a home: showers, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, house plants, humans and pets, among others. In newly built homes, additional moisture may escape from building materials such as lumber, plaster and masonry for up to three heating seasons, even with proper airflow and temperature management.

Older vs. Newer Homes

Condensation may be less of an issue in older homes if conditions allow for more air exchange between indoors and out, often from around aging, loose or poorly installed windows and doors. However, the tradeoff is higher energy bills.

Newer homes, on the other hand, are more airtight and energy-efficient. Many have vapor barriers plastic within the wall cavity that blocks moisture passage in either direction. With tighter-fitting doors and windows, vapor barriers and increased insulation, energy costs are lower, but humidity levels must be monitored more closely.

No matter when your home was built, the key is to strike the right balance when it comes to humidity levels. Air thats too dry can cause furniture to dry out and crack, joints and studs to shrink and twist, and paint and plaster to crack. Excessive moisture in the home can cause paint to peel and insulation to deteriorate, and condensation on windows and doors can damage sills and trim.

Measuring and Controlling Humidity

To determine how much humidity is present in your home, you can purchase a humidity gauge from a hardware store or home center. Invest in a quality unit for greater potential accuracy in assessing humidity levels, or consult an expert. Another way to monitor the interior humidity level is to watch your windows. When interior condensation begins to form, reduce the humidity by opening windows, running exhaust fans or dehumidifiers, or minimizing sources of moisture.

Exterior Condensation

Exterior condensation on windows occurs primarily in the morning when days are warm and humid, but nights are cool. Typically, it clears as the day warms. Exterior condensation can occur at any time, especially in warm, humid climates where interior temperatures are cooler than outdoor conditions. Exterior condensation means that windows are doing their job properly. However, if you spot excessive condensation on the inside of your windows, check your inside humidity it may be a signal of potential problems if not addressed.

Tips for Winter Moisture Management

Closely monitor the furnace humidifier and any other humidifying devices.

Be sure louvers and vents for the attic, basement and/or crawl space are open, adequately sized and cross-ventilated.

Run exhaust fans for kitchen, bathroom and laundry rooms for longer periods.

Make sure exhaust fans vent directly outside, not into attics or crawl spaces.

Be sure chimneys are free and clear so moisture in combustion gases can escape.

Follow the manufacturers instructions for venting gas appliances. In most cases, that will mean directing vents to the outside of the home.

Make sure your furnace is in proper working order and is serviced regularly.

Store firewood outside or in the garage as wood dries, it gives off moisture.

Open a door or window for several minutes each day to refresh the inside air.

Open window coverings such as blinds, shades, drapes and curtains during daylight hours to increase airflow over the glass.

Install energy-efficient windows, such as those with the ENERGY STAR designation.

It doesn’t really matter what materials you are looking into buying, you can find the quality that you are looking for.  There are two independent testing associations that you should check for certification from.  These are the most important aspects to finding the replacement windows that will guide you to the best windows money can buy.  No matter what the salesman will try and convince you of, use these facts and certifications as your authority.

The very best replacement windows are the ones certified by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).  The AAMA is considered the top standard since they test the quality of the material, how the materials are assembled, and the integrity of the finished product.  The testing is all and random and incredibly rigorous.  Once a manufacturer decides to have the AAMA certify their window they sign a contract that allows the AAMA unannounced, random access to their production line. This ensures that you will get only the best quality.

The NFRC mainly focuses their testing on energy efficiency.  This means they test for R-values of the glass and air infiltration, among others.  But be aware that the NFRC label can be a little bit misleading.  They will put their label on windows that merely meet the minimum standards, so some window will be much more energy efficient than others within the same company.  They do provide the numbers and values that tell you just how energy efficient that particular window is, and they provide a guide to interpret these number.  But ultimately it is your responsibility to figure out the greatest value.  Ideally you want to find windows with both certifications to know you are getting the best.  Be aware that both associations install a label on the side of the window.  So it won’t be seen once the window is installed.  To be entirely sure the certification exists, try to get a peek at the window before installation for this label.

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.

To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Screens

If you have a lot of windows, it is easiest to remove all of your screens from the inside. Take a pencil and write in tiny letters on the frame where it belongs as you remove them. Example: MBR – L (Master Bedroom, left window) or something that will make sense to you later. To clean your screens, you will need:

• A bucket of soapy water – dish soap is fine
• A SOFT bristle brush
• Access to a garden hose

Begin by using the hose on a soft setting – don’t use a strong “jet” setting that will damage your screens. Slop some of the soapy water onto the screen if necessary (if there are dead bugs, grit on the frame, spider webs), and gently use the soft brush to get off the mess.

While you’re cleaning your screens, look for tears or holes. Don’t put a screen back that is damaged. Keep it aside for the next weekend project. Repairing or replacing screening within a frame is simple and takes about a half an hour! Rinse off the screens and place them somewhere to air dry.

Outside Windows

While the screens are off, tackle the outside windows. Start with a DRY broom and sweep any spider webs, dirt, and bugs off the windows and the frames. (Note: for upstairs windows, I cheat by taking another broom or mop and duct-taping it to my broom. I can reach the windows that way standing on a step stool.) If you have a lot of caked on gunk, you should make another bucket of soapy water and dip the broom in, slosh up some water and give the window and/or frame a scrub. If the windows just need cleaning, use one of the methods for window cleaning below. If you have a two story home, you can try a commercial glass cleaning product that attaches to your garden hose to spray the windows clean.

If your outside windows are difficult to reach from the outside, you can clean them from the inside. If you have two windows next to each other, it’s easier. Open the windows all of the way to get the top of the outside window. If you have two windows together, you can get the bottom of one from the other side. If it’s a single window, you will have to close the window as much as you can while still being able to reach your hand under to clean the top of the bottom window. Voila! No ladders (or waiting for help!) and the outside windows are clean!

Cleaning Your Windows Perfectly

To clean windows, most people either use a squeegee or a cloth. If you have the right tools, what you actually use to clean the windows really doesn’t matter very much. In fact, you can clean windows with plain water wiped off with newspaper! If you use this method, you’ll want to wear gloves or your hands will be filthy, but it works very well.

Squeegee Method

Professionals use squeegees because they get a window completely dry so there are no streaks. You can buy a squeegee for home use, but make sure you consider the size of your windows before you buy, especially if you have small panes.

The cheapest way and easiest way to use a squeegee is to use it with a bucket. If you want to use spray, you still have to use a cloth to spread it around before you squeegee, and that’s more work. We are going for saving time while still getting great results. You can buy a window washer (just a foamy or fuzzy strip with a handle,) or you can use a regular cloth. Dip it into a bucket of diluted cleaner (I like to use diluted windshield washer for easy jobs, and 1 cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water with just a quick squirt of dish soap for tougher jobs), apply it to the window, scrubbing where you need to. Next is your squeegee technique:

Some people like to use a dry cloth to clean the very top of the windows, and then pull the squeegee from the dry area all the way down to prevent streaks. That’s a lot of work, and if you’re doing multiple windows, your cloth gets wet, so I don’t like this method.

The better method is to simply wet your squeegee before you start. Your first stroke should be horizontal (across) at the very top of the window. Wipe off your squeegee, and pull down from the dry part. When you get to the bottom, use another horizontal stroke, and then you will only have to wipe one corner with a cloth.

Microfiber Cloth Alternative

Now that you can buy microfiber cloths (expensive in stores, but much cheaper online), the squeegee isn’t your only option. These cloths are the same material you use to clean eyeglasses. They get the windows dry and leave no lint or streaks. You’re able to dump the bucket and the tools and just spray onto your windows again!

It doesn’t really matter what materials you are looking into buying, you can find the quality that you are looking for.  There are two independent testing associations that you should check for certification from.  These are the most important aspects to finding the replacement windows that will guide you to the best windows money can buy.  No matter what the salesman will try and convince you of, use these facts and certifications as your authority.

The very best replacement windows are the ones certified by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).  The AAMA is considered the top standard since they test the quality of the material, how the materials are assembled, and the integrity of the finished product.  The testing is all and random and incredibly rigorous.  Once a manufacturer decides to have the AAMA certify their window they sign a contract that allows the AAMA unannounced, random access to their production line. This ensures that you will get only the best quality.

The NFRC mainly focuses their testing on energy efficiency.  This means they test for R-values of the glass and air infiltration, among others.  But be aware that the NFRC label can be a little bit misleading.  They will put their label on windows that merely meet the minimum standards, so some window will be much more energy efficient than others within the same company.  They do provide the numbers and values that tell you just how energy efficient that particular window is, and they provide a guide to interpret these number.  But ultimately it is your responsibility to figure out the greatest value.  Ideally you want to find windows with both certifications to know you are getting the best.  Be aware that both associations install a label on the side of the window.  So it won’t be seen once the window is installed.  To be entirely sure the certification exists, try to get a peek at the window before installation for this label.

American WeatherTECHS offers a complete line of replacement windows and siding solutions.

A great way to improve energy efficiency is by installing replacement windows.  Not only are they a viable means of reducing your heating and cooling costs, they add to the aesthetic appeal of your home and require virtually no maintenance.

For more information on vinyl replacement windows, and a look at the types of windows we offer, click here.