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 landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality problem inside your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can try to resolve the problem.
What Causes Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the moist warm air throughout your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially commonplace in the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When talking about condensation, it’s necessary to understand the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture within a window is created from the warm humid air inside your home condensing against the glass.
- Existing moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity in your home. Different things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be condensing 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 Inside Your Home
Thankfully there are numerous options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier active inside 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 higher than you prefer, consider purchasing 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, portable units require emptying out water trays and generally service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level just as you would select a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run immediately 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 Newark.
Additional Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air flowing inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
- Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.