What do foggy windows mean

The reason for foggy windows has to do with temperature and the air's moisture content. On a cold day, any moisture in the air inside your car — from passengers exhaling, snow on your boots, etc. The condensation is what makes your car's windows appear foggy. On a hot, humid day, the opposite happens, when the muggy air outside your car reaches the dew point against your windshield after it's cooled by your AC system.

Whether the fog is on the inside or the outside of your windows, any time you can't see clearly in all directions, it's potentially dangerous. So, it's important to know how to make sure your windows are clear — no matter the weather. When you're dealing with cold weather outside and you turn on the heater inside your car, the fog typically will start to form on the inside of your car windows. Here are some options to defog those windows:.

For a quick fix : According to Road and Track , this is the fastest way to defog your windshield:. For a more comfortable solution : Lifehacker advises those who want to be snug and warm while driving to turn on the defroster and blow warm air across the windshield to evaporate the accumulating moisture. If your vehicle's ventilation system has a recirculate feature, turn it off. When this feature is on, your car's heat or AC reuses the air inside the car instead of continually pulling in air from outside.

If you're trying to defog the windows in cold weather, you want your car to continually take in the drier outside air instead of reusing the more humid air inside the vehicle. Not sure if your car has recirculation?

Look for a button on the dashboard that has an arrow going in a circle or a semi-circle. Sometimes, it will feature an icon of a car with this type of arrow inside it.

When the temperature and moisture level outside are greater than inside the car, moisture will condense on the exterior of the car glass. Similar to the situation when it's colder outside than the inside of your car, the goal is to change the temperature on the inside of the car to match the outside temperature. Trying to see through fogged-up windows can be a driving hazard, but with these tips, you can help increase your driving safety — no matter the weather.

Someone Hit My Parked Car. What Do I Do? What Is Comprehensive Coverage? Retrieve a saved quote. As a company, we pride ourselves on hard work and dedication. We have a wide variety of replacement windows for your selection.

If you need a window replacement, you can count on us to get the job done. For more information about removing condensation from your windows, contact us online today. You can also call us at The perimeter seals are vulnerable to damage when there is too much water buildup near your windows.

Excess heat: Since warm air expands, the air inside a double pane window could stretch your seals. The seal has to withstand the opening and closing of the window throughout its lifetime.

It also must endure harsh temperatures in both the summer and winter. Can Foggy Windows Be Repaired? Here are some ways you can attempt to repair your foggy windows: Replace the IGU unit: Replace the seal or the second pane of glass inside your insulated window.

There are many parts of an insulated glass window. If your windows are old, replacing your windows may be more cost-effective anyway. Use a defogging spray: You could use a defogging spray to prevent fogging on your windows. You could even use shaving cream every couple of weeks to treat window fog. While your windows might be clean for a little while, the main reason why your windows are fogging is because of poor window insulation.

Professional defogging costs about half of what a window replacement would cost. You can only fix the problem for good by replacing your whole window. How to Prevent Window Fog in Your House Before your windows fog, make sure you have proper ventilation throughout your home. Here are other ways to prevent window for in your house: Buy energy-efficient windows: Invest in high-quality, energy-efficient windows.

Check with your manufacturer to see if your windows come with a lifetime guarantee. Install your windows correctly: Make sure you trust the person putting in your windows. Ask your contractor questions to find out about their experience with windows. Improper installation could cause failure in your direct-set glass and seals. Inspect your windows every couple of months: Examine your windows, sash and seals.

When this happens, it means one of three things:. Be aware that windows are more likely to fog up on the inside or outside if you have single pane windows. With a higher rate of heat transfer through the single pane of glass, condensation is more likely to form. Then, your windows can obviously only fog up between the panes if you have double pane windows. First, try wiping the fog off the inside of the window. If neither of these suggestions has any effect, your windows are fogging up between the panes.

Quality double pane windows perform well for decades before their seals break. This means once you make the investment, you can expect your new windows to last.

You could ignore your foggy windows, but replacing them allows you to:. The reason double pane windows exist is to provide a better barrier against the outdoor air. The panes feature a small air space between them that acts as a buffer to slow heat transfer.