How do ice crystals form on windows?

Water vapor is present as moisture in the air, experienced as humidity. In warmer months, you’ll feel a heaviness to the air. In cooler months, when the temperature drops and the windows are closed, that moisture is trapped inside your home and drawn to the window panes where it makes contact with the cold glass and changes from a gas to a liquid. This is experienced as condensation, and when outside temperatures drop further, this condensation freezes and forms into ice crystals.

For more information on indoor humidity and how to manage it, take a look at our previous post, How to Manage Indoor Humidity. For more information on how condensation happens, take a look at our video:

What can happen?

Over time, exposure to ice can cause both aesthetic and structural problems with either the finish and/or frame of your windows. As the frost or ice melts, the liquid can sit along the window frame and discolor the topcoat, crack the paint, rot the wood, and even cause mold and mildew to grow.

How to prevent it?

• Upgrade from single-pane to double- or triple-pane windows. Experiencing ice build-up on windows is more common with single-pane, as double- or triple-pane offers extra insulation from outside temperatures and should prevent the humidity inside your home from coming into contact with freezing outdoor temperatures. In addition, single-pane windows are more prone to frame, wall, and insulation damage as water may run behind the wallboard into the insulation without the double- or triple-pane to capture any excess moisture.
• Keep a towel rolled up on the window sill at night which will collect any water that forms on the glass. Mop up any excess water and replace with a fresh towel the next day.
• Raise the room temperature at night to prevent ice and frost from building up. You may need to use a space heater in a particularly cold room.
• Don’t over-water plants, and keep them in one room.
• Store your firewood outside to prevent moisture from the wood from building up inside.
• Look for leaks in your plumbing and have them repaired. Even a dripping faucet can add moisture to the air.

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