Why Does My Car Have Condensation Inside?

Imagine that on a cold winter day, you are driving home from work. You have got the heat cranked up to thaw your frozen toes, but you notice your windscreen is fogging. You may be wondering about the reasons behind fogging, why there is so much moisture in your car, and how to deal with it. It can happen because of faulty parts in your car, which you can fix at your next car service Cardiff. But some factors are weather and environment. 

In this blog post, we are going to explain why your car gets condensation on the windows. We will also discuss tips for getting rid of condensation inside your car. If you are interested in knowing more about car condensation, then keep reading.

What Causes Condensation in A Car?

Condensation happens when water vapour turns into liquid water, this is the opposite of evapouration. You might identify condensation as the reason your chilled can of soda gets wet on a hot day. The process of condensation can also occur inside your car, especially on the windows and windscreen. Here are the main causes of condensation in your car:

Outside Weather Conditions

Sometimes, condensation inside your car’s windows and windshield can be caused by the weather outside the car. If the outer temperature is low, then the inside car temperature, like it often is in winter, can cause moisture inside the car to create window condensation.

Humidity in the Car 

When you breathe inside your car, it can create more humidity in the air. The extra moisture can collect on the window and windscreen in the form of condensation. This can also happen because of wet items left in the car, such as a wet bathing suit or a bag full of sweaty gym gear from your early morning laps. 

Faulty Seals

There are rubber seals around your vehicle that are open, including the doors, windows and windscreen. These seals have different benefits, including stopping unwanted air, liquid and debris from entering your vehicle. So if you are wondering why your car windows keep steaming up, you should check these seals to know the reason.

Seals that are damaged can let moisture from rain or snow into your car. If seals are open, they don’t do a great job of insulating your vehicle, which can cause condensation to build up in your window and windscreen. 

Internal Heater Issues

It may sound a little weird, but a broken heater core can cause condensation in your car. A heater core uses heat from the engine coolant to blow warm air inside the cabin when you turn on the heater.

A damaged heater core can create condensation in your car by leaking coolant inside your cabin through the vents. As you know, this is not something you should ignore. If you notice a damaged heater core, get your car checked by a professional technician in your area.

How To Stop Condensation Inside of a Car?

To stop the condensation inside your car, you will need to go through a process of elimination to identify the cause.

Try Adjusting the Temperature

If there is a bigger difference between the temperature inside your car and the temperature outside, condensation may occur. So try adjusting the humidity level in your car.

Turn off the recirculation and turn on the air conditioning. This will bring dryer air into the car, which can reduce humidity dramatically. Then you can try to start the heat up to bring in even more dry air. If this process doesn’t work, drive with the windows open for a couple of minutes to see if it works.

Remove Any Wet Clothes

Check if you left any sweaty clothes in the backseat and forget about them. Look for any soaking wet towel from cleaning off your muddy pup after a romp at the dog park. Sometimes wet carpet of your car introduces extra humidity inside the car.

Check for Any Damaged Door Seals and Windows

Seals like those on your door and windows are really easy to check. Just visually inspect the squishy rubber seals that line your car windows and doors, searching for cracks, tears and crumbling. Clean the seals with mild soap and water while you are at it. You can touch the seals to ensure they are not brittle, breaking or overly soft as if melted. 

Look For Any Signs of A Broken Heater Core

If these tips don’t work and you still notice condensation inside your car, you may have a heater core problem. Here are some signs of a damaged heater core:

• You smell sweet and syrupy inside your car
• Your heater works poorly or in some cases, it doesn’t work. 
• Over time condensation buildup and leaves a greasy film on the windscreen and windows
• You can see liquid spraying out of the vent when you turn on the heater
• You may notice coolant leaking inside the cabin from behind the dashboard

Conclusion

If you have been facing condensation problems for a long time, check your car with a professional technician. Condensation is not a major issue or a safety concern; your car doesn’t fail its MOT Cardiff. But if not repaired, it can lead to other major problems, resulting in bigger repair bills.