Over the winter months, the weather inevitably gets much colder and much weather, which traditional conservatories are designed to handle with innately watertight construction methods.
However, because many conservatories are primarily made of glass, excess moisture and condensation can be particularly common, because glass is particularly vulnerable to contrasting temperatures on both sides of a glass pane.
The freezing temperatures on the outside contrast strongly with the temperature of the glass pane on the inside, and can not only cause condensation but a lot of heat to be lost through single-pane glazing.
This is also the reason why, in particularly unique circumstances where one part of a glass pane gets hotter than another that a window can suddenly shatter without warning due to thermal stress.
The latter is unlikely, but as condensation is a major problem for many older conservatories this winter and could potentially cause mould, here are some top tips for preventing it as much as possible over the coldest point of the year.
Open A Window
As counter-intuitive as this may seem, particularly when so many of us are closing windows and ensuring our homes are as airtight and thermally efficient as possible, opening a window for a few minutes a day can go a long way to preventing condensation.
Ventilation is key, and if you cannot or do not want to install a roof vent or extractor fan, this can work as a contingency plan.
Buy A Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers work by extracting moisture from the air they draw in, and can not only be bought cheaply but are exceptionally effective at preventing condensation in the most direct way possible.
For best results, place them directly under the windows, where the air is most likely to be at its most humid in your conservatory. Either use a larger unit or a set of smaller units placed on each windowsill.
Alternatively, condensation catchers and moisture traps work in a very similar albeit more passive way to achieve the same kinds of results.
Buy Moisture Catching Plants
Many people love to have plants in their conservatory because it is often the best source of light in the house. However, many plants work to raise humidity levels inadvertently, making them counterproductive in winter.
Take them out of the conservatory as the temperature cools down, and instead replace them with peace lilies and other plants that absorb the moisture instead to not only retain that bright space that comes with adding plants but also reduce condensation, putting the water vapour to much better use.
Dry Washing Elsewhere
Many conservatories work as all-purpose spaces, and much like how plants tend to thrive in brighter, sunnier locations, it can be a popular place to dry washing in the summer because of the greater exposure to the sun.
In winter, however, try to avoid drying your washing in the conservatory as this can often exacerbate already existing condensation issues due to the moisture present in the damp and wet clothes.
Instead, find warmer, dry spots in the house to dry your clothes.