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 landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a layer of condensation.

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

What Causes Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the moist warm air in your home mixing with the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly common over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to understand the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows versus 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 inside your home collecting along the glass.
  • The moisture you find between windowpanes is formed when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Many things generate humidity in a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue

Although you might presume condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be evidence your home has higher humidity. If this is in fact the case, water might also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home

Fortunately there are numerous options for extracting moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier active in 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 active and your home’s humidity level is high, think about purchasing 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.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from an entire room. However, those units require emptying water trays and generally 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 permits you to set a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

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, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air moving within the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
  • Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.

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