The windows of your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.

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

What Causes Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the humid warm air inside your home reaching the cold surface of the windows. It’s notably common during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about 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 inside a window is created from the warm damp air throughout your home forming along the glass.
  • The moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal stops working 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 solved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Different things generate humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be a Problem

Although you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it can be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is in fact 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 Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home

Fortunately there are various options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

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

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from a single room. However, portable units require emptying water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level the same like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation West Jefferson.

Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air circulating inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.

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