The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality deficit within your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can attempt to correct the problem.
What Creates Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the humid warm air in your home mixing with the cooler surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent around the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When talking about condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture inside a window is created from the warm humid air throughout your home collecting on the glass.
- The moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Many things generate humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Though you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic concern, it can be evidence your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity in Your Home
Fortunately there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.
If you have a humidifier active in your home – whether it be a small unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, these units require emptying water trays and generally service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to specify a humidity level the same like you would select a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will run automatically when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .
Additional Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level in your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one place.
- Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the damp air from being trapped against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity in your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.