The windows of your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality issue inside your home. Fortunately, there’s multiple things you can do to resolve the problem.
What Causes Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the damp warm air inside your home mixing with the colder surface of the windows. It’s particularly common during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison 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 produced from the warm humid air in your home collecting on the glass.
- Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity in your home. Different things produce humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Even though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be a sign your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home
Not to worry, because there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier running in your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is high, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from an entire room. However, portable units require emptying water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level precisely as you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Jefferson City.
Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
- Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.