The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality deficit within your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can try to correct the problem.

What Creates Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the humid warm air in your home reaching the cold surface of the 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 dealing with 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 created from the warm humid air throughout your home condensing against the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Different things produce humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Although you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be indicating your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water might also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home

Fortunately there are several options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier running inside 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 going and your home’s humidity level is high, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture into your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, those units require emptying 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 regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level precisely like you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can raise the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the humid air from being stuck 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.