The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality issue throughout your home. Luckily, there’s multiple things you can attempt to resolve the problem.

What Produces Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home hitting the colder surface of the windows. It’s particularly common in the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s necessary to recognize the distinction 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 created from the warm damp air inside your home forming on the glass.
  • Any moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Numerous things produce humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be an Issue

Even though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it can be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water might also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home

Not to worry, because there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from one room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and usually service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level just like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Litchfield Park.

Additional Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on 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 lower condensation by stopping the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.