The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to draw light in when you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window covered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality problem within your home. Thankfully, there’s numerous things you can do to correct the problem.
What Causes Condensation in Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the moist warm air inside your home hitting the colder surface of the windows. It’s particularly commonplace 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 necessary 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 within a window is produced from the warm humid air inside your home collecting against the glass.
- The moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window should 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 in your home. Numerous things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Even though you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be indicating 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 encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home
The good news is there are various options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier active within your home – whether it be a small unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home decreases.
If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is high, think about installing 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 an entire room. However, these units require emptying water trays and most often service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level precisely as you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Pocatello.
Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove 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. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air circulating inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
- Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity in your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.