Frost and Drafts in Iowa Winters
On the coldest January nights in Des Moines, windows are where you feel winter most: frost on the glass, a cold draft along the sill and condensation running onto the trim.
Request a window quoteWhy frost forms
Warm, moist indoor air hits cold glass and the moisture freezes. The colder it is outside, the lower the humidity needs to be to prevent it.
Lower humidity
On subzero nights, turn humidifiers down. Run bath and kitchen fans.
Drafts
Feel for air at the sash, meeting rail and frame edges. Worn weatherstripping is the usual culprit.
Lock windows
Locking pulls sashes tight against their seals.
Storm windows
Storm windows add a layer of insulation on older windows.
Curtains
Open curtains during the day so warm air reaches the glass.
Failed seals
Frost between panes means the seal has failed.
When to replace
If drafts and frost happen on many windows every winter, replacement may make sense.
Next
See replacement windows.
Measure indoor humidity
An inexpensive hygrometer shows indoor humidity. When it's well below zero outside, keeping indoor humidity on the low side, roughly in the 25 to 35 percent range, cuts frost and condensation on most windows without making the house uncomfortably dry.
Plastic film kits
Shrink-film kits on the inside of old windows are a cheap stopgap for a winter or two while you plan replacements.
More window replacement guides
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