The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a coating of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality deficit within your home. Thankfully, there’s numerous things you can attempt to correct the problem.
What Produces Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the moist warm air throughout your home reaching the cold surface of your windows. It’s notably commonplace over the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to understand the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture on the inside of a window is caused from the warm moist air throughout your home condensing along the glass.
- Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Many things generate humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Although you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be a sign your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water might 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, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home
Not to worry, because there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier running inside 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 going and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, those units require emptying water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level just as you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Troy.
Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within 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 reducing humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.