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

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be a sign of a more serious air-quality problem in your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Creates Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home mixing with the cold surface of the windows. It’s notably common in the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s important to recognize 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 within a window is caused from the warm humid air throughout your home forming against the glass.
  • The moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Many things cause humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean a Problem

Although you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be evidence your home has high humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home

Fortunately there are several options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier active in your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home decreases.

If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is high, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and generally service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level just like 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 will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Menomonie and western Wisconsin.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in 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 rooms out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air flowing inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
  • Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the humid air from being trapped against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.