Condensation can cause moisture to build up inside your car. It’s something you shouldn’t overlook because moisture can lead to visibility issues, especially if there’s condensation in the windshield or any of the other glass. Mold and mildew are also not uncommon if you don’t take care of the problem immediately.
Before discussing solutions, let’s understand what causes the issue.
Why Is There Condensation Inside My Car?
Condensation happens when warm air containing moisture touches cold surfaces like your car’s windshield and windows. It usually occurs when the temperature inside your car is significantly different from the temperature outside.
While some condensation is normal due to moisture in the air, high humidity can cause the moisture to be worse. But extremely heavy condensation can mean there’s a leak allowing water to enter the vehicle.
Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.
Pro Tip: Sometimes water can enter the vehicle along the base of the windshield or through a poorly sealed body panel seam. Some 2000s Ford pickups may have water to enter around the high mount stop lamp at the top of the back of the cab.
Here are some factors that can contribute to moisture buildup inside your car:
Clogged A/C Evaporator Drain
If the evaporator drain on the A/C is clogged with leaves or other debris, water can enter the vehicle due to an overflowing evaporator case from normal condensation on the condenser.
Wet Carpets or Floor Mats
It’s not uncommon to get in your car even when your shoes are wet, especially on rainy days. Unfortunately, your carpets or floormats could absorb the moisture on your shoes, which could then condense on your ride’s interior surfaces.
Damaged Door Seals
Seals or weatherstripping create a waterproof barrier between your ride’s interior and exterior. They prevent water and other elements from entering your interior—at least until they wear out or get damaged as your ride racks up mileage.
Because door seals are typically made of rubber, they can lose their flexibility over time. You can check the condition of your weatherstripping by squeezing them between your fingers. If they spring back, they’re still in good condition. Otherwise, it’s time to have your doors repaired.
Leaky Sunroof
A blocked water drain in your sunroof mechanism can cause leaks, allowing water to enter your interior when it’s raining.
Sunroof leaks aren’t always that obvious. Sometimes, water can get in through your car’s headliner and pillar panels. It’s hard to notice it until you step on a wet floor mat or notice moisture in your car seats.
If you suspect that your sunroof is leaking, don’t think twice about taking your car to a professional. Besides condensation, leaks can damage your interior in the long run.
Old Cups of Coffee or Open Water Bottles
Leaving your old cup of coffee or open water bottle in your car can contribute to condensation inside your car. Over time, these containers can release moisture that can condense on your window glass and windshield. So don’t leave coffee cups and water bottles inside your car for a long time.
Bad Heater Core
Although there are a lot of unalarming reasons why condensation happens in your car, there’s one that’ll give you a headache. A bad heater core can cause condensation in your car.
A heater core is a radiator-like component that helps warm your car’s interior. Once there’s a leak in the heater core, warm coolant can enter the cabin, creating condensation.
A sign that a bad heater core is the culprit is when the window glass will feel greasy. You might also notice a sweet smell throughout the interior, indicating that coolant is leaking out.
How to Prevent Condensation In a Car
Although condensation occurs naturally, there are ways to prevent it. Here are some of the ways to avoid having too much moisture inside your car:
Keep Your Interior Dry
Anything wet inside your car can contribute to condensation, so make sure to keep your interior clean and dry. You can manually check if there’s moisture in your car’s upholstery.
Don’t forget to inspect your floor mats and carpets regularly. If your mats are wet, you can remove and dry them. This might also be a good time to clean your vehicle and get rid of any crumbs of dirt.
Use Your A/C
Your car’s a/c system stabilizes the temperature inside your cabin, helping remove humidity inside your vehicle. You can activate your A/C fan or blower to help remove moist air from your car.
Turn off Your A/C Recirculation Valve
Use the A/C recirculation valve only when it’s needed. An A/C recirculation valve allows the same air to recirculate inside the cabin instead of introducing outside air. It’s helpful in maintaining a constant temperature, especially when it’s humid outside.
However, recirculating the same air in your car can cause moisture to stay inside your cabin. You can turn off your A/C recirculation valve to get new dry air from the outside.
Park In a Covered Area
If you often notice condensation in your car when parked, re-evaluate where you’re parking your car. To avoid condensation, it’s always a good idea to park in a covered area to keep the temperature inside your car more consistent.
Buy a Moisture Absorber or Dehumidifier
You can also shop for moisture absorbers and portable dehumidifiers online. Moisture absorbers can absorb and remove bad odor, so you can keep your interior smelling good.
A portable dehumidifier can also take out moisture in the air. Simply place the device inside your vehicle and close your doors and windows.
Use Baking Soda
If you don’t like to spend money on aftermarket moisture absorbers, you can use baking soda as a natural moisture absorber. Simply open a box of baking soda and place it inside your car.
Make sure to close all the doors and windows. Baking soda can absorb moisture and unwanted odor, so it works just like a commercial moisture absorber.
Leave Your Windows Open On Sunny Days
If you can, open your windows when it’s sunny. This will allow the warm air from the outside to enter your ride’s interior and reduce its moisture. Just make sure to roll the windows back up when you park your car.
Health Risks Related to Condensation
Condensation inside your cabin might seem like a small issue to deal with when you compare it with more pressing issues like an overheated engine.
While this might be the case, it’s important to keep in mind that the condition of your cabin is as important as the condition of other complex systems that help keep your car running.
Mold can quickly form in damp areas. When left untreated, you’ll most likely see black spots forming on seats, the cabin ceiling, and other damp surfaces.
Other than being unsightly, mold can release spores into the air, which can be irritating to your airways.
Breathing in too much mold can result in headaches and breathlessness.
Dust mites are another product of condensation. These develop in damp areas where dust can build up, such as your carpets and seats.
Once your cabin has been infiltrated with dust mites, you might feel like you’re having an allergic reaction.
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