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

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

What Causes Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home mixing with the cold surface of your windows. It’s notably prevalent during the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s necessary to recognize the difference 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 inside a window is produced from the warm moist air throughout your home collecting along the glass.
  • The moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Many things produce humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be an Issue

Although you might presume condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be evidence your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water could also be collecting 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 Lower Humidity in Your Home

Thankfully there are several options for eliminating 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 running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from an entire room. However, these units require clearing water trays and usually service a fairly 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 just like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Lawrence.

Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can raise the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
  • Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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