Upgrading your window and door frames does more than just improve the energy efficiency of your home. It also contributes to creating a healthy home environment by preventing condensation, water damage and the growth of mould and mildew.
Many respiratory conditions can be caused or aggravated by dust, mould spores or chemicals present in your home. We don’t often make the connection because we can’t always see these particles with the naked eye. But the products we use at home, our ventilation systems and the structural health of the building all have an impact on our health.
Here’s how to create a healthier home environment
Eliminating the growth of harmful microorganisms, reinforcing the insulation of your home and ensuring adequate ventilation to let stale air out are crucial steps to creating a healthy home environment.
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Reduce condensation and mould
Condensation collecting on the inside of your window panes is an indicator that there is excess humidity in your home. This itself indicates faulty ventilation or a leaky pipe in your wall, it’s advisable to check your home thoroughly for either.
But why is condensation on your windows really an issue?
Condensation is not absorbed by glass as it’s impervious to water. So, the droplets trickle down and soak into the timber joinery of your windows and doors. Damp surfaces are ideal for mould or mildew to develop, the spores of which can circulate in your home and cause respiratory distress. Early exposure to mould or mildew has been linked to the development of asthma in children and they have been known to trigger other respiratory conditions as well. This is why it’s important to routinely inspect rarely used rooms for damp patches. Mould can also grow on surfaces other than wood like paper and paint. If your French doors have glass panes set in metal, constant condensation can erode paint and lead to corrosion.
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Increase the insulation at home
Ideally your home should be well insulated from the roof to the foundation with a high standard insulation material. This is important to keep the warmth in while preventing dampness and the cold from seeping in. A chilly home can be expensive to heat and also have you catching a cold or aggravate respiratory conditions. Keeping your home warm enough i.e. above dew point, will prevent condensation from collecting. This in turn, prevents the possibility of mildew and mould. If you’re renovating, it’s worth it to check on the insulation and work closely with the architect and builder to ensure the levels are appropriate.
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Benefits of double glazing
Is double glazing worth the cost? Home owners with double glazed windows enjoy a very effective method for preventing heat from escaping their interiors. It keeps your heating bills down and additionally, contributes to protecting your health. Double glazing prevents condensation from collecting on your windows as the interior pane of glass never comes into contact with the cold outdoor environment and this resists the formation of water droplets. This prevents the subsequent damage caused by condensation. It also keeps your interiors warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, helping to keep you more comfortable in both seasons.
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Benefits of ThermalHeart
Double glazed windows are more effective than single glazed, but with an aluminium window you can still expect condensate to collect around the perimeter of the frame. This is because the metal still transfers some heat. This is where thermally broken aluminium joinery like ThermalHeart comes in. With this high quality joinery, a nylon barrier is added into the frame so it can create another insulation point to separate the warm and cold areas. It also helps in further reducing heat loss.
Speak to us at Window Factory about ThermalHeart. There is a wide range of finishing options, and with the great service from our team, you can have a thermally insulated home that keeps you warm, dry and healthy. We are easy to work with, and enjoy helping our customers build or retrofit to make their home of their dreams.
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Benefits of passive ventilation
What is passive ventilation? Simply put, this is just a form of air circulation that is created with the help of natural forces rather than using mechanical systems. Natural pressure differences are used to bring air from the outside in and push stale air from indoors out through window vents, windows and doors. This improves indoor air quality and removes any smoke or indoor pollutants like dust mites and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that are present in your home. VOCs are the collective result of chemicals such as cosmetic sprays, cleaning sprays, and paint used inside a home.
Ventilation is key to removing air pollutants from your home and letting fresh air in. Something as simple as opening a window while drying laundry or using a ventilation fan while cooking can help reduce the humidity collecting inside.
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