The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to let light in when you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you want 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 problem inside your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can do to resolve the problem.

What Creates Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the humid warm air throughout your home reaching the colder surface of your windows. It’s notably commonplace during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s necessary to understand the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture inside a window is produced from the warm damp air in your home forming along the glass.
  • The moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Different things generate humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Could Mean an Issue

Even though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be evidence 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 slim film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity in Your Home

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

If you have a humidifier active within your home – whether it be a small 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 high, look into purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from a single room. However, portable units require clearing water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level the same like you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Crown Point.

Additional Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity inside your home and moving air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.