How to Prevent Condensation in Your Glass Shower Enclosure

Condensation is a recurring problem in most household bathrooms.

After you shower, water droplets from the window, walls and mirror make the surface of your shower enclosure cold. Damp air is then cooled when it comes into contact with these surfaces. Since warm air contains more moisture than cool, the result is heavier condensation.

 

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This problem is common in almost every bathroom. Use this simple guide to reduce condensation and maintain a cleaner bathroom, even after a hot shower.

Prevent Pesky Condensation on Your Tempered Glass Shower Door

You spend a lot of time (and sometimes money) in your bathroom in an attempt to relax. But even a well-planned bathroom can have a condensation problem. From small irritating watermarks on your shower enclosure to black mould that can potentially damage your health, there are numerous side-effects to condensation if it’s not taken care of promptly.

Since your bathroom is the most humid area of your home, condensation can occur frequently, unless you ensure proper air flow and heating.

But before taking any precautions, let’s understand how condensation forms.

How Does Condensation Form?

Simply put, condensation is water vapour turned back into liquid. In your bathroom, warm, humid air comes into contact with cold, wet surfaces in your shower enclosure, including tiles to mirrors. And obviously the moisture content of your shower or bath is greatly increased, resulting in condensation.

Interesting Fact

Although annoying, constant condensation may be a sign of your home’s energy efficiency. As it’s warm on the inside and cooler outside, the moisture difference gets worse due to little air transfer.

Preventing Condensation

Many homeowners ask how to stop condensation. The simple answer is you can’t. The nature of all bathrooms (and shower enclosures) won’t permit it. You can, however, cut down on the amount by controlling airflow and heat so shower windows and mirrors are affected less and risk of mould is lowered.

Reducing Humidity

One of the simplest ways to reduce humidity is to get a dehumidifier. The ideal home humidity level is around 40%, but feel free to lower this a little, especially in winter, to avoid condensation. In winter, the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperature is significant.

Another method is to control sources of humidity and moisture. Hot showers make air humid and exacerbate condensation. Open your bathroom windows and doors for few minutes each day for ventilation and to allow drier air to enter. This should reduce the level of humidity in your shower.

Treating the Glass

Another solution is to treat tempered glass affected by the condensation. A homemade mixture of vinegar and water can wipe away marks. Put an equal amount of vinegar and water in a spray bottle, or keep it in a bowl to dip a dry cloth into it. Make sure you dry the glass with a paper towel after wiping it clean.

Some Other Preventive Measures

  • Fix any bathroom leakage so there’s no chance of excess moisture getting into the air.
  • Try taking cooler showers.
  • Apply specially designed anti-condensation paint to your bathroom walls and ceilings to act as a water-absorbing coating.
  • Turn up the thermostat a few degrees. This will warm cold surfaces above the condensation temperature.

As weather changes, it effects our home’s structure and materials. From wood to glass, nothing is immune to nature. Condensation isn’t a major problem but can make glass shower enclosures look dull as droplets form and leave stubborn etched stains. Keep these tips and preventive measures in mind to help your glass shower enclosure look sparkling clean.