The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a more serious air-quality issue within your home. Fortunately, there’s numerous things you can try to address the problem.

What Creates Sweating along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent in the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s important to know 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 humid air inside your home forming against the glass.
  • Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Many things generate humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean a Problem

Although you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water may also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity in Your Home

The good news is 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 small-scale unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from an entire room. However, portable units require emptying water trays and usually service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture from your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level the same like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Crown Point.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can raise the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air swirling within the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one area.
  • Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity across your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.