Mold is not just unsightly. It can damage your home and even cause health problems. Window sills are a particularly mold-prone part of your home due to the inevitable condensation on your windows, and leaks can make mold even more likely.
So, how can you prevent mold growth on your window sills? Let’s explore mold on windows and what you can do about it.
What Does Mold on Windows Look Like?
There are a variety of types of mold that can afflict your home, in various colors and forms. Most mold on window sills, though, is black, green, or white. Here are some of the signs of black mold on window sills or other issues:
- Slimy or fuzzy patches
- Black or dark spots on the windowsill or frame
- A musty or earthy smell
Note that mold can sometimes be the same color as the sill or the window track, making it particularly hard to spot. Inspect your sills for mold regularly.
Why Mold Grows on Window Sills
Mold requires moisture to survive and thrive. When your home is warmer than the surrounding air, the moist air from inside the home meets the much colder surface of your window. This causes condensation that then runs down the window to the sill.
This constant moisture creates a perfect breeding ground for mold spores. Even if you clean the mold away, it will likely come back. High indoor humidity can also contribute, as can poor ventilation. Mold is, obviously, more common during the winter when the temperature differential is highest, but it can also show up in the summer if you don’t take steps to drop humidity.
Immediate Solutions & Long-Term Prevention
Given that mold can cause allergic reactions and worsen respiratory health, getting rid of mold is important when you find it. Typically, a solution of water and vinegar is the best thing to clear mold growth. Mold can’t handle the acid of the vinegar.
In addition, wipe your windows down with a dry cloth every day to reduce condensation. Consider opening windows when you can or using fans to increase ventilation, and take good care of your HVAC system.
In the long term, though, the best solution is high-performance windows. If you are frequently cleaning mold from older windows, it might be time to consider replacing. If your windows are single-paned, then you are inviting mold.
High-quality windows from companies like Advanced Windows are designed to be more insulated. Double glazing traps heat and keeps the inner glass pane warmer, resulting in reduced condensation. As a nice side effect, this should also drop your heating and cooling bills.
Also, new windows will be free from leaks that allow additional moisture to enter your home.
Invest In Your Home's Health
Mold growth on your window sills is not inevitable. Emergency solutions such as wiping the windows down or cleaning sills with vinegar can help, but in the long term, upgrading your windows is by far the best way to protect your home.
New windows will also lower your heating and cooling bills and increase your comfort. Older windows may leak and be drafty, increasing mold risk not just on your window sills but throughout your home. New windows are better sealed and will even improve your health by keeping out outdoor allergens and smoke.
Consider Advanced Windows for your upgrade. We sell custom vinyl windows, which are stylish, high-quality, and energy-efficient. We have windows to match any style of home and well-trained professional installers who will put your windows in right the first time.
If you have a persistent problem with mold on your window sills, contact Advanced Windows for a free consultation. Let us show you how new windows can solve your condensation and mold problems.
Image credit: // Shutterstock // Tatevosian Yana
