How To Avoid Skylight Condensation
Avoid The Need For a Skylight Contractor To
Stop Condensation In Bergen County, NJ
Tips To Reduce Skylight Condensation
And Allow In More Natural Light
If you have had a skylight installed in your commercial, industrial, or multi-family residential building, it may be experiencing condensation in a hard-to-reach spot. This can be very annoying, especially if the condensation is dripping onto building occupants, puddling on the floor, and causing a slip-and-fall hazard.
A Bergen County, NJ skylight contractor can help. However, you can try a few suggestions to eliminate the moisture buildup without the need to call in a professional. Typically, skylight condensation arises because of high indoor humidity or the low temperature of the glass surface.
Before you call in a skylight contractor for assistance, try some of the following suggestions to save yourself time, money, and hassle.
Run Ceiling Fans In Your Bergen
County, NJ Building
Condensation occurs when warm, humid air comes in contact with a cold surface like a window or skylight. When humid air drops in temperature, its moisture changes state, transforming from a gas into a liquid. This process is known as condensation, and it leaves a film of moisture on the window or skylight.
You can interrupt the condensation process by keeping warm indoor air from rising to the ceiling and shedding its moisture. Simply run ceiling fans throughout the building to push warm air back to floor level. This not only keeps condensation from collecting on skylights at the ceiling, but it also reduces your heating and cooling needs.
By returning warm air to the floor, it keeps this area—which is often occupied—warm. This means you do not need to run your furnace as long or as often as you would if the warm air by the floor was replaced with cooler air.
By running ceiling fans, you eliminate skylight condensation, keep occupants more comfortable, reduce your heating costs, and eliminate the need to call a skylight contractor for an inspection or repairs.
Run A Dehumidifier When Bergen
County, NJ Is Damp Or Cold
Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air in one of two ways. The more common way is by cooling it until it condenses into water. Essentially, it performs the same function as the cold skylight surface. However, it does so preemptively before warm air can rise and shed its moisture onto the skylight.
The condensed moisture collects in a bucket or receptacle, which must be dumped out when it is full. The frequency of its need for emptying depends on how large it is and how humid the air is. Some dehumidifiers must be emptied daily, while others can be filled for a week or longer.
The second method is through absorption. The dehumidifier contains a dry material that absorbs moisture from the air until it is sodden. Then, it must be removed and replaced.
Place a dehumidifier in the room beneath a skylight that’s collecting condensation. That way, you can often prevent airborne moisture from reaching the glass.
Make Sure Duct Vents Aren’t Blocked, Causing
Condensation On Skylight Windows
One of the biggest causes of indoor humidity is poor ventilation. In such cases, moist air becomes trapped within the building instead of being vented outdoors. This can happen when the air return duct vents are blocked. Older buildings often have only a single air return vent located centrally.
If the air return vent(s) are blocked, humid air cannot be exhausted, and moisture may collect on your windows and skylights. To identify an air return duct, turn on the HVAC fan. Hold your hand or a sheet of paper in front of each air duct vent. If there is suction toward the vent, it is an air return. If air blows away from the vent, it is not.
Consider Calling A Skylight Contractor
If none of the suggestions above have helped, consider calling a North Jersey skylight contractor for assistance. They will send an expert to inspect the skylight, see if it is leaking, and determine if it has been installed properly.
Skylight contractors are often certified for installation, maintenance, and repair. For best results, check their credentials before hiring a service. Also, look for a contractor who has been in business for several years and has numerous positive reviews from satisfied customers.
