The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality problem throughout your home. Thankfully, there’s numerous things you can try to address the problem.
What Causes Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the cooler surface of your windows. It’s notably prevalent over the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to understand the distinction 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 inside a window is created from the warm damp air in your home collecting against the glass.
- Any moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Numerous things produce humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Even though you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be indicating your home has high humidity. If this is in fact the case, water might also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home
Thankfully there are numerous options for extracting moisture from the air throughout your home.
If you have a humidifier operating within your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is excessive, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers add moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.
Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, portable units require emptying water trays and generally service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which enables you to set a humidity level precisely as you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Hudsonville.
Other Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including 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 in your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one area.
- Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the humid air from being trapped against the windowpane.
By lowering humidity in your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.