The windows throughout your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a more serious air-quality deficit inside your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can try to correct the problem.

What Causes Sweating on Windows

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

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s important to understand the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows versus 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 produced from the warm humid air throughout your home forming along the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps 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 situation and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Numerous things cause humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Although you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be evidence your home has higher humidity. If that’s the case, water could also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

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

If you have a humidifier running within your home – whether it be a smaller 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 higher than you prefer, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level the same like you would select a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Menomonie and western Wisconsin.

Alternative Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air flowing throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one area.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.

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