Don't leave your windows crying this winter

Better condensation control means better health for your family and the condition of your interiors.

Essentially, condensation happens when warm, damp air inside your home touches cooler (uninsulated) window glass.

Three key steps can alleviate 'crying' windows in your home and its associated health problems – effective ventilation, good heating, and critically choosing the right window solutions.

1. Let the air flow

Reducing excess moisture and improving air circulation starts with good ventilation – open windows whenever possible, install extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and ensure your home has adequate airflow.

2. Balanced heating and limited moisture escape

Heat your home evenly is a major plus –  condensation flourishes with dramatic interior temperature differences so keep your rooms heated evenly where possible. 

Drying clothes outside when possible, covering your pots when cooking to prevent steam escaping are just two ways to prevent moisture being trapped inside your home.

3. Address your window systems (this is the big one)

When installed correctly and combined with proper home ventilation, thermally broken aluminium double glazed windows can significantly reduce condensation and mould in your home.

Here's why

The main reason thermally broken aluminium double glazed windows reduce the risk of condensation is simple physics.

Condensation forms on the coldest available surface in your home and one of the most dramatic and obvious surfaces for moisture to gather on are single glazed windows – which often as not will matches outdoor temperatures.

Double glazing is half your healthy winter windows story

However, with double glazing such as such as the Altus Window Systems' Southern41™ Thermal System and Pacific52™ Thermal System:

• The inner glass pane stays closer to room temperature
• Heat loss is slowed down
• Cold surfaces inside the home are reduced

The welcome result is that moisture in the air has fewer cold surfaces to condense on, meaning there are less water droplets forming on windows and dripping onto sills – this leads to a noticeable reduction in morning condensation within days of installation.

Thermally broken systems are the other half of your home's healthy glazing equation

Aluminium joinery systems with a thermal break built into the frame greatly improve the overall insulation of your home.

While two window panes with trapped air between (double glazing) stops cold reaching your touchable inner window pane, thermally broken systems prevent direct temperature transferal from the cold outside section of the window frames to the internal part of the framing system – so cold exterior temperatures are effectively locked out completely.

Names to consider – these high spec systems are game changers for your home

Southern41™ Thermal System (engineered for double glazed units)

Southern41 Thermal is a 41mm residential aluminium joinery system with a unique thermal break built into the frame to improve the insulation of your home. 

Modern and sleek flat faced frame profiles are available across all frame types. 

Flat faced frames seamlessly blend with our other systems, including the Pacific52 Thermal System, where required.

Southern41 technology

Southern41™ thermally broken joinery is made using the ‘Pour and Debridge’ manufacturing method. This involves filling (the ‘Pour’) a channel designed into the aluminium frame with a resin. The back of the channel is then milled out (the ‘Debridge’) to sever the link between the front and the back of the aluminium and create a 5mm thermal break in the frame.

The unique Southern41™ thermal break not only builds on the impressive insulating properties of double glazing, it also delivers incomparable structural strength while combining traditional and modern aesthetic options – a comfier, healthier home, all year round is the result.

Features and benefits:

• Cost competitive joinery
• High end finishes in standard joinery offering
• Full range of product solutions from one supplier
• Advanced architectural design for a reasonable price
• Ease of specification – off the shelf detailing

The Pacific52™ Thermal system (also engineered for double glazed units)

The next generation Pacific52 thermally broken aluminium joinery is designed to deliver improved insulation, noise reduction, strength and the virtual elimination of condensation – this is Altus' top performer and is well suited to extreme environments.

Pacific52 technology

Pacific52 Thermal uses a ‘Polyamide Strip’ to extend the benefits of double glazing to the frames of your windows and doors. A thermal break within the frame is created by joining two pieces of aluminium together using a 16mm polyamide strip crimped to each side of the frame. 

The thermal barrier formed by the polyamide strip stops the transference of heat from the front of the frame to the back of the frame, thus stopping heat from passing into (or leaving) your house – as a result, your home is more comfortable and requires less energy to heat.

The Pacific52™ Thermal system can accommodate almost any combination of window and door configuration, while the framing itself has a sleek square profile, not rounded, to suit modern architectural aesthetics

Features and benefits:

• Code Compliant joinery
• Peace of mind
• Bespoke joinery offer – custom designed to meet New Zealand standards & weather conditions
• Ease of specification

Mix, match across myriad window/door configurations 

The Pacific52 and Southern41 Systems work well together – they can be used on the same build project, while maintaining a consistent appearance and thermal performance.

Both systems are available in a comprehensive range of styles – including Sliding and Stacking Doors; Bifold, French and Hinged Doors; Awning & Casement Windows.

Introducing these advanced window systems to your home (in concert with taking the anti condensation approaches listed at the beginning of this editorial) results in a warmer, dryer, healthier condensation and mould free interior for your family.

When thermally broken aluminium double glazed windows make the biggest difference

You will notice the strongest improvement if your home currently has:

• Single glazed windows
• Old aluminium frames without thermal breaks
• Poor insulation in walls or ceilings
• High condensation on window surfaces every morning
• Visible mould forming around window edges

In these cases, upgrading to thermally broken aluminium double glazed windows often results in immediate improvement in indoor comfort and moisture control.

Find out more

Find out more about the Pacific52 Thermal system here

And find out more about the Southern41 Thermal system here

Story by: Trendsideas