Home → Conservatories → Conservatory FAQs → How to stop condensation in a conservatory
You may find that droplets of condensation start to form on your conservatory during the colder months of the year. Whilst this is perfectly normal and quite common for conservatories, it can be annoying. There are, however, some simple steps you can take to stop condensation.
What causes condensation in a conservatory?
Condensation is caused by the difference in temperature between the inside and outside of your conservatory. When hot air meets the cold surface of a window, the moisture in the air condenses to form droplets. We tend to heat our conservatories more during the winter months and the outside temperatures are lower, so you’ll often find condensation at this time of year.
The level of condensation in your conservatory is affected by the contrast in temperature between the inside and outside. With this in mind, there are three main factors that influence the formation of condensation:
- The temperature of the windows
- The temperature inside the conservatory
- The moisture levels in the conservatory
Preventing condensation in your conservatory
You can’t raise outside temperatures in winter (and sitting in a freezing cold conservatory just to get rid of condensation would be counterintuitive). As such, all of the methods for preventing condensation work by reducing the moisture levels in your conservatory.
There are a number of steps that you can take to bring the humidity down and stop condensation in your conservatory:
- Don’t close your conservatory off from the rest of the house.
Keeping the doors open will allow air to flow around your home. The extra ventilation will help to keep moisture levels down in your conservatory.
- Avoid drying your clothes in the conservatory.
Conservatories get a lot of sunlight, making them the ideal place to hang your laundry out to dry. Although conservatory spaces provide great conditions for drying laundry, the moisture from your clothes will increase the humidity in the room and exacerbate issues with condensation. Try to avoid hanging up laundry in your conservatory where possible.
- Reduce the number of house plants in your conservatory.
House plants brighten up conservatories and can breathe some life into the space. That said, having too many of them can increase the amount of condensation in your conservatory because plants release water vapour into the air through tiny holes called stomata. Some plants actually reduce humidity by absorbing water in the air – ivy and Boston fern are good choices for this.
- Buy an air dehumidifier
If you’ve already tried to increase the ventilation in your conservatory and still have problems with condensation, then you might want to purchase a dehumidifier. These are relatively inexpensive and highly effective at reducing moisture levels in the air. Dehumidifiers work by drawing in air, extracting all of the moisture, and collecting water.
- Leave your windows in the night vent position
If your windows have multi-point locking, then leave your windows in the night vent position (partially open, but locked). This will increase the exchange of air between the inside and outside, helping to balance out the difference in temperature. The additional air circulation will also reduce the humidity levels inside your conservatory. Although the window is locked in this position, it is far less secure than being fully locked, so remember to close and lock your windows overnight.