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

Not only are windows covered in condensation unappealing, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality deficit in your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can do to correct the problem.

What Produces Condensation in Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the damp warm air in your home hitting the cold surface of the windows. It’s notably commonplace in the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s important to understand 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 on the inside of a window is created from the warm moist air inside your home condensing on the glass.
  • The moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Different things produce humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be an Issue

Although you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are various options for extracting moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier active 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, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to establish a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Auburn and Opelika.

Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can raise the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one area.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity across your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.