Will Double Glazing Stop Mould?

Mould is a common concern in many homes that experience excess moisture, especially older ones. Mould grows in homes around leaks in pipes, roofs, and windows. Condensation, where colder temperatures on the outside pane of a window transfers by “condensing” itself into droplets on the inside of the window, can be a major issue for many homeowners.

If left untreated, these absorbent surfaces can cause black mould to grow. If exposed to black mould, you are more likely to have respiratory infections, asthma, allergies, and it can also affect your immune system. This is why it’s so important to protect yourself from the mould where you can with the right protection.

How Can Double Glazing Prevent Mould?

Mould is a very common occurrence around windows as the cold air from the outside meets the warm air inside. The best solution is to create an insulating layer between the inside and the outside, which is where double glazing windows can help.

Because a double-glazed window has two panes of glass with an insulated gap in between, this means the outside pane doesn’t transfer the moisture to the inside pane. The inside pane remains warm, which results in less condensation, and therefore, less mould.

What to Remember When Keeping Mould at Bay

Double glazing can be very effective at keeping mould at bay by preventing condensation, but we have to remember, to make sure we prevent mould in the property, we need to know how to manage condensation in the home, including some of the following methods:

Increasing Ventilation in the Home
It’s important to make sure that the entire property, not just the window panes, is free from mould. If you have vents at the top of your window, make sure you open these for half an hour a day, which is a sufficient amount of time to prevent dry air from turning into mould.

Reducing the number of House Plants
House plants tend to stay by the window in order to get the benefit of sunlight, but where possible, make sure you keep them away from window sills because they can release moisture into the air. If you have mould developing on your window sills, despite high-quality double glazing, plants could be the culprit.

Being Vigilant
Black mould congregates around window frames and on the glass, but it’s important to remember that if you don’t address the root cause, the mould will keep coming back. If you have single-glazed windows, you can only keep mould at bay for so long. When mould develops, it can pose a health hazard. It’s recommended by the NHS that you only remove mould patches if the area around the windows is smaller than 1 metre squared, and always wear rubber gloves.