When the air outside your conservatory cools, the risk of getting condensation in your conservatory becomes greater. As the door and windows are generally shut at these times, moisture can build up in the air as water vapour. This then condenses to water as it hits the cold glass surfaces of your conservatory.

If this is not addressed then eventually the condensation can result in mould growth, something clearly most people want to avoid. Here are our top tips for managing and preventing condensation in your conservatory.

Reducing ambient moisture

It is the moisture in the air within your conservatory which leads to condensation, and controlling the ambient moisture will directly minimise condensation. The chief sources of moisture in a conservatory are plants and the habit of drying laundry in your conservatory. It is worth considering moving house plants into the main building during the winter months, and where possible avoiding using the space for drying clothes.

Another approach is to control the temperature of the air in your conservatory so that droplets do not form. Introducing a heater to the conservatory will definitely reduce condensation by controlling the moisture in the air. This is however not necessarily an ideal solution as the costs associated with a heating the space, particularly when the space is not being occupied, may make this solution uneconomical. The use of dehumidifiers is generally cheaper, though they can still be quite expensive to run continuously.

Looking for a long-term solution can often be a better plan to ensure that your conservatory remains warm during winter months. Replacing your glass roofing with special lightweight metal tiles is becoming increasingly popular with conservatory owners. Metal roof tiles will provide your conservatory with the correct level of insulation to ensure that it remains as warm as possible during the winter months as well as the rest of the year.

Increasing air flow

An energy consumption free way of controlling condensation is to improve the flow of air through the space. At its simplest, this can mean leaving the doors and windows open for periods of time which greatly improves the flow of air. This may not be practical however, as the property may be vacant for some weeks, or you may have security concerns around leaving the area accessible from outside.

Trickle vents extract water vapour without compromising the temperature of the conservatory, and these should be fitted as standard when your conservatory was built. Fortunately, these can be retrofitted during any refurbishment.

If you are now thinking of having your conservatory refurbished then it is well worth thinking about having the windows and the roof condensation proofed. Having your conservatory condensation proofed also means that it will remain as warm as the rest of your house and therefore you can continue to use it throughout the cold winter months.

If you’re looking for a refurbishment or conservatory roof replacement, get in touch with Metrotile. Our lightweight tiles are Europe’s no. 1 roofing material and each profile comes with a 40 year guarantee. Call us on 01249 658 514 or fill in our contact form and we will get back to you.