The windows of your home open up 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 want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality problem inside your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can do to correct the problem.

What Produces Sweating along Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is created by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of the windows. It’s particularly common over the winter when it’s much colder 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 in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture inside a window is caused from the warm humid air throughout your home collecting against the glass.
  • Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Many things generate humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Could Mean an Issue

Even though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be indicating your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home

Fortunately there are various options for extracting 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 running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level just like you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Alliance.

Additional Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air flowing within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity in your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.