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

Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality problem within your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can do to resolve the problem.

What Causes Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the damp warm air inside your home reaching the cooler surface of your windows. It’s notably commonplace in the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s important to recognize 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 within a window is produced from the warm moist air in your home forming against the glass.
  • Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be solved by changing the humidity in your home. Numerous things produce humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Could Mean Trouble

Though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it can be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water might also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home

Not to worry, because there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier running inside your home – whether it be a small 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, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from one room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level precisely like you would select a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level surpasses 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 Streamwood.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the humid air from being trapped against the windowpane.

By lowering 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.