The windows in your home open up to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality problem within your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can try to correct the problem.

What Produces Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of your windows. It’s particularly common over 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 understand the distinction 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm humid air inside your home forming along the glass.
  • The moisture you see between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Numerous things generate humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be a Problem

Although you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be a sign your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water might also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

Thankfully there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier running inside your home – whether it be a smaller 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 excessive, look into installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces 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 an entire room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level the same like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Booneville.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
  • Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.