The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality problem in your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can do to address the problem.

What Produces Sweating in Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is created by the damp warm air inside your home hitting the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly commonplace during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s necessary to understand the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture within a window is created from the warm humid air in your home forming against the glass.
  • The moisture you find between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity inside your home. Many things produce humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean an Issue

Although you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower 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 within your home – whether it be a small-scale unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is high, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which enables you to set a humidity level precisely like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Seymour.

Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing inside the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.