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

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality deficit inside your home. Luckily, there’s multiple things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Causes Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the damp warm air inside your home mixing with the cooler surface of the windows. It’s especially prevalent 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 crucial to recognize the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture within a window is created from the warm moist air in your home condensing on the glass.
  • Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity inside your home. Numerous things produce humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Could Mean a Problem

Even though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be indicating your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water might 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, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

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

If you have a humidifier operating 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 running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to set a humidity level just like you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Frederick.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
  • Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the humid air from being stuck 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 in the middle of the winter.