The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in when you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in 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 Creates Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the humid warm air throughout your home reaching the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly prevalent around the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s crucial to understand the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture on the inside of a window is caused from the warm damp air inside your home condensing along the glass.
  • The moisture you see between windowpanes is formed when the window seal stops working and moisture slips 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 changing the humidity inside your home. Numerous things produce humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be a Problem

Although you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be a sign your home has higher humidity. If that’s the case, water could also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home

The good news is there are numerous options for extracting moisture from the air in 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 going and your home’s humidity level is high, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds 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 eliminate the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level precisely like you would select a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Tomball.

Alternative Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
  • Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.