moisture on the window – a problem that many house and apartment owners are familiar with, especially in the cold season. What often becomes visible as fogged-up windows or small water droplets can be thermal bridges on windows. In this article, you will learn how thermal bridges are created, what consequences they can have for your home and what you can do about them.
Table of contents
The most important at a glance
- Cause: Thermal bridges on windows are caused by inadequate insulation and are often a problem with old or incorrectly installed windows.
- Consequences: Moisture accumulates and can lead to mold growth and damage to window frames and walls.
- Immediate measures: Regular ventilation, targeted insulation measures and the installation of energy-efficient windows help to solve the problem in the long term.
- Mold must be removed professionally
Causes of moisture on windows: How do thermal bridges arise?
If moisture regularly forms on your windows, a thermal bridge could be to blame. A thermal bridge is an area in the building envelope that cools down more quickly than the surrounding areas, causing more heat to escape to the outside. Such areas are often found on window frames and lintels. Causes of thermal bridges can be:
- Insufficient or damaged insulation: If the insulation materials around the windows are not installed properly or have worn out over time, uneven heat flow can occur.
- Old windows with low insulation value: Older window models are often less well insulated, which means they lose more heat.
- Incorrect window installation: Even small errors during installation, such as gaps or inadequate sealing, can lead to the formation of thermal bridges.
These causes can lead to the temperature at the windows dropping significantly. When warm, humid indoor air hits the cool surfaces, condensation forms.
consequences of thermal bridges
Moisture on the windows is not only unsightly, it can also have serious consequences:
- mold growth: When moisture accumulates regularly, it creates an ideal breeding ground for mold. Mold is dangerous to health and can be difficult to remove.
- Damage to frames and walls: Water penetrating the window frame or surrounding walls can cause long-term material damage, often requiring costly repairs.
- Increased energy consumption: Heat continuously escapes to the outside through thermal bridges, which leads to a higher heating requirement and thus to rising energy costs.
Measures against moisture on the window
To avoid moisture on the window and the associated risks, there are some measures that can help immediately:
- Proper ventilation: Ventilate regularly, ideally with short bursts of ventilation (five to ten minutes with the windows wide open) – this way you can quickly exchange the moist indoor air for dry outdoor air.
- Combining heating and ventilation: Keep rooms at a constant temperature and avoid turning the heating off completely so that the air can circulate and moisture does not condense on cool surfaces.
- Protection through insulation and high-quality windows: In the long term, well-insulated windows are one of the best solutions to prevent heat loss and associated moisture. When replacing windows, look for high-quality models and seek advice from professionals to find the best possible solution for your building.
mold growth
moisture on the window, especially if it occurs regularly, creates ideal conditions for mold growth. molds spread preferentially in damp, poorly ventilated areas and can release dangerous spores that pollute the air in the room. Inhaling these spores can be particularly dangerous for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. health risks Typical complaints caused by mold spores range from respiratory problems and coughing to allergic reactions and skin irritationsIn the long term, mold exposure can increase the risk of chronic respiratory diseases and asthma.
Mold, which is on thermal bridges and moisture accumulation should always be removed professionally. Superficial cleaning is usually not sufficient, as Mold often also settles in deeper material layers. specialist company for mold removal can Mold not only remove them professionally, but also treat the affected areas in such a way that new growth is made more difficult.
Just as important as the removal of the mold is to eliminate the causes of the moisture problems. Without proper insulation and adequate ventilation, the risk remains that Mold Eliminating thermal bridges and creating good air circulation are therefore essential to ensure a healthy indoor climate in the long term.
Eliminate thermal bridges with RanoTec
RanoTec is expert for water damage restoration and mold removal out of Rhineland-Palatinate. We stand Customers in Alzey, Worms, Mainz and the surrounding area professionally to eliminate thermal bridges and any Mold professionally and sustainably removed.
We look forward to your contact.