How to Get Rid of Those Frosted Window Panes

So while that frost on the windows was a cute little decorative effect for the holiday season, as we enter the new year, that becomes less charming… And with many months of winter yet to come, the frost should be dealt with. At LeafGuard, we are here to help you figure out what your options are in dealing with all your household issues. Windows can be a headache to deal with and often involve some expensive decisions, whether you decide to replace them or deal with the high heating cost that come with old inefficient windows. Here is some helpful tips of what to do to keep that frost off your windows.

Why it’s happening and why you should care.

First things first. Why is it happening? Well, very simply, there is moisture near the window. The window gets extremely cold and the moisture is drawn to the window and therefore, freezes on the window pane. The reason you should care is that the frost, once it melts, will create problems for your window. Water and wood do not do well together, so it’s in your best interest to keep as much water away from your interior windows.

In order to prevent frost from showing up on your windows, there are two things you need to look at in order to keep your windows dry and frost-free. 1) Reduce the moisture in your home and/or 2) stop cool air from contacting your inside window pane.

Reduce Moisture

The first way to prevent frost on your windows is to reduce moisture in the room or rooms where the problem is occurring. And while it seems odd to want to take moisture out of the air in winter, a time when we assume the air dries up, many home produce too much moisture. So, while it seems counter intuitive, getting rid of or managing the moisture in your home is actually beneficial. Several areas where homeowners can improve the amount of moisture that is release in their homes is to add water efficient shower heads and home appliances. Another important area to analyze is your dryer ventilation. A properly ventilated dryer can go a long way in reducing the amount of moisture in your home. And finally, if all else fails, add a portable home dehumidifier to the room that is giving you the most problems.

Stop air leakage – Caulk or use Weather stripping

The other guilty culprit to that frost on your windows are windows that do not keep out the cold. If the cold can easily get past those storm windows and bring down the temperature of your inside window pane the chances of frost increases. On the flip side, if your inside window is on the leaky side, frost can appear on your storm windows. Either way, taking the time to seal off any leaks is key to keeping frost away! Here are the two options that you have. First, get yourself some window weather stripping and line your window as instructed. Secondly, purchase some silicone caulk and seal the perimeter!

Stop air Leakage – Replace loose or missing window glazing

If you feel that the sash and the frame of your window isn’t the problem, you should probably look to the glass. Especially if you are seeing frost or condensation develop on your windows. As your windows get older the glaze will start to chip or loosen, allowing air to sneak through the glass. If you are feeling dangerous, follow these steps to reglaze your window panes.

• First, get yourself a putty knife and remove old putty.
• Then, detach the pane and add some fresh putty
• Put back the pane and add glazing points (small metal clips to attach to the sash).
• Push the points into place with a regular screwdriver.
• Apply a thin bead of putty and use a clean putty knife to smooth into place.

In Madison, there are many homes that suffer from these issues. It can be hard to solve in the winter if it’s really cold outside, but it’s a good idea to take these tips and use them in the warmer months to fix up your home and make it more comfortable for the coming year.