My windows at home keep steaming up with condensation – how can I get rid of this?

By This Is Money, Ask The Experts
Condensation keeps steaming up my windows at home. How can I stop this from happening?
A home energy expert, from not-for-profit energy group Ebico, replies: 'Inadequate room heating, poor thermal insulation, insufficient ventilation and excess moisture in the air are the four main triggers of condensation in the home. And when condensation appears on windows, it’s a sign of one or more of these.
All air contains some moisture – even indoors. As your windows are exposed to the outside temperature, it’s likely that they are the coldest surface within your home – particularly if they are single-glazed. 

 Warning sign: Condensation on windows can be caused by inadequate room heating, poor thermal insulation, insufficient ventilation and excess moisture in the air

When warm moist air comes into contact with the cooler glass of the window pane, the moisture condenses out into liquid water droplets known as condensation.
This is an important sign to pay attention to, as it is probably telling you that the humidity (water vapour) level in your home is too high.

Sorting this out will save you money in the long run, preventing damage to your home from mildew, moisture spots or rotting wood. 
In addition, more heat energy is needed to warm up moist air than dry air, so getting rid of air moisture will help to reduce your heating bills as well.
On a daily basis, we all do things around the home that add moisture to the air – from cooking to having a shower or bath, doing the laundry and even washing the dishes.
To take control of excess humidity and reduce condensation in your home – and your energy bills too – there are a number of things that you can do:
1.    Make sure your tumble dryer is vented outside
2.    Keep lids on saucepans whilst cooking to lock steam in
3.    If you have an extractor fan above the cooker hood, make sure this is turned on during cooking
4.    Use the extractor fan in the bathroom when showering or bathing – if there isn’t one, open a window slightly (just don’t forget to close it after you’ve finished!)'

Home Energy Expert is a free energy advice service from Ebico, the UK’s only not-for-profit energy company and National Energy Action, the UK’s leading fuel poverty charity, committed to improving the quality of life of low income households and campaigning for warm homes.

Home Energy Expert has teamed up with This is Money to answer any burning questions about energy in your home. If you want to improve your energy efficiency and save money then email your question with Home Energy Expert in the subject line to: editor@thisismoney.co.ukFor more information click on to: www.ebico.org.uk