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

Not only are windows coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a larger air-quality problem in your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Causes Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the damp warm air throughout your home mixing with the cooler surface of the windows. It’s notably common during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows versus 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 caused from the warm humid air in your home collecting on the glass.
  • Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and by then the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity across your home. Different things generate humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be Trouble

Although you might think condensation in your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be evidence your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water might also be collecting 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 Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home

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

If you have a humidifier operating within 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, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level the same like you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Laurel.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

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

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