The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a more serious air-quality deficit within your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Produces Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the moist warm air in your home mixing with the cold surface of the windows. It’s especially prevalent over the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is in 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 compared 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 inside your home condensing along the glass.
  • Any moisture you find between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and by then the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Different things produce humidity in a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Could Mean a Problem

Though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be a sign your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water may 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 Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home

The good news is there are several options for extracting moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier running within your home – whether it be a small unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from an entire room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and most often service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which enables you to set a humidity level just like you would select a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Auburn.

Other Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near 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 elevate the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the damp air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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