The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as 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 coating of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality problem in your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can do to address the problem.

What Causes Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the humid warm air inside your home hitting the colder surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent around the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing 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 air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture on the inside of a window is caused from the warm humid air in your home collecting on the glass.
  • Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Many things generate humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem

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

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

The good news is there are various 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 running and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and most often service a fairly small 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 specify a humidity level just like you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Savage.

Alternative Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.

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