Why are my windows fogged or moist on the inside?

My windows fogged up

New Mexico’s dry high desert heat will test any type of perimeter seal of your home’s windows, whether it is weather-stripping, caulking or the best designed drainage systems. Sometimes you may just be experiencing “weeping” where the window is actually designed to allow moisture to escape.

If you have single pane windows, you may be experiencing higher than usual condensation on your windows from temperature variance in the morning. Upgrading to a double paned window can reduce the thermal variance between outside and inside, leaving you better insulated and reducing internal moisture gathering. Otherwise, morning moisture is a matter of physics. Inside your home, when the temperature of the glass drops below the dew point of the inside air, visible moisture forms on the glass. The combination of a high level of moisture in the air and a cool glass surface triggers the condensation process. Additional condensation occurs when there is additional water in the air and/or when glass surface becomes cooler.

Water damage above and on the sides of a window:

Water is coming from above the window. Check the seal at the top of the window and where the glass meets the window frame. The roof should be checked for cracks especially when parapets are concerned. 

Water damage below the window:

Water is draining through the bottom of the window. The first place to check is the weep holes. Most people don’t realize that windows are designed to leak and then drain through weep holes. They are hidden very well in the most brands but they are there. Drought conditions caused them to fill with dust and dirt and then won’t allow the bottom track to drain properly when hit with rain. The test is very simple to perform to verify your windows are draining properly. Find your weep holes. Remove the screen and open the sliding portion of the window. With light pressure from a garden hose, fill the track with water. You should see water draining through the weep holes to the outside or you will see they need to be cleaned. If the leaking problem continues, check all seal joints where the window meets the exterior surfaces of the wall. 

For more Do-it-yourself tips visit the Mobile DIY University on mobilescreenandglass.com