The windows throughout your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while 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 layer of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality problem throughout your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can try to resolve the problem.
What Produces Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the humid warm air in your home reaching the cooler surface of the windows. It’s especially common during the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When talking about condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture within a window is caused from the warm moist air inside your home condensing against the glass.
- The moisture you find between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity in your home. Different things cause humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Though you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be indicating your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water may 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 Lower Humidity in Your Home
Fortunately there are several options for extracting moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier active in your home – whether it be a small-scale 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 higher than you prefer, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, these units require clearing water trays and generally 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 enables you to set a humidity level the same as you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start immediately 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 Thedford.
Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level throughout your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air flowing inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one area.
- Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity in your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.