The windows throughout your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while 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 unsightly, they also can be a sign of a more serious air-quality problem inside your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can try to correct the problem.

What Causes Sweating in Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the cold surface of your windows. It’s notably common around 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 important to know the difference 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 caused from the warm damp air throughout your home forming along the glass.
  • Any moisture you find between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Different things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean an Issue

Though you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic concern, it can be a sign your home has higher humidity. If this is in fact the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home

Thankfully there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.

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

If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is excessive, look into installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level precisely like you would select a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Savage.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, moist 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 swirling within the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one area.
  • Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.

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