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

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

What Causes Condensation in Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the moist warm air throughout your home hitting the cooler surface of your windows. It’s particularly common during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

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

  • Moisture on the inside of a window is created from the warm moist air throughout your home collecting along the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Different things produce humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be a Problem

Even though you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be a sign your home has excess humidity. If that’s 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, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

The good news is there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier operating inside 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 active and your home’s humidity level is high, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level precisely like you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start instantly when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Weatherford.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as 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 raise the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one area.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.