The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality issue throughout your home. Fortunately, there’s multiple things you can try to correct the problem.
What Creates Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the moist warm air inside your home hitting the cold surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent around the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s important to recognize the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture within a window is caused from the warm humid air in your home collecting against the glass.
- Any moisture you find between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Many things generate humidity in a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Although you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic concern, it can be indicating your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water might also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity in Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier active inside your home – whether it be a small-scale unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from one room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level precisely like you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .
Other Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
- Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.
