The windows throughout your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a more serious air-quality deficit throughout your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can attempt to correct the problem.
What Creates Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the damp warm air inside your home hitting the cold surface of your windows. It’s notably prevalent during the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to understand the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows compared 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 created from the warm damp air in your home condensing on the glass.
- Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Many things produce humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Though you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be a sign your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for removing moisture from the air inside 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 decreases.
If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture in your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from one room. However, portable units require emptying water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level just as you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Murrieta.
Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by pulling the warm, moist 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 flowing throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
- Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity inside your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.