The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality issue in your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can try to resolve the problem.
What Causes Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the moist warm air throughout your home mixing with the cooler surface of your windows. It’s notably common over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s important to understand 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 moist air throughout your home collecting along the glass.
- Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and by then the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Many things produce humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Although you might think condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity in Your Home
Fortunately there are several options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier operating within 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 active and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls 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 usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level the same as you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Eastland.
Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level in your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
- Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the damp air from being trapped 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 during the winter.