The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in when you enjoy 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 unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality deficit throughout your home. Fortunately, there’s numerous things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Produces Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the humid warm air in your home mixing with the colder surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about 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 within a window is produced from the warm moist air inside your home collecting along the glass.
  • The moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Numerous things generate humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean Trouble

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

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

Not to worry, because there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier active 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 active and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider 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.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level the same like you would choose 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 experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Cottonwood & Prescott.

Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

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

By decreasing humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.