The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a coating of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality problem within your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can try to resolve the problem.
What Produces Condensation in Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home reaching the cooler surface of the windows. It’s particularly common during 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 crucial 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm humid air inside your home condensing on the glass.
- The moisture you find between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by changing the humidity inside your home. Many things generate humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Although you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be indicating your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity in Your Home
The good news is there are various options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier active within 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 active and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers add moisture inside 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 an entire room. However, portable units require emptying water trays and generally service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level precisely as you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start immediately 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 skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Menomonie and western Wisconsin.
Other Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can raise the humidity level throughout your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
- Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.