The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you take in 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 coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality problem inside your home. Fortunately, there’s numerous things you can try to correct the problem.

What Causes Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the damp warm air in your home mixing with the cold surface of the windows. It’s notably commonplace in 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 crucial to recognize the difference 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 caused from the warm moist air in your home condensing on the glass.
  • The moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Different 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 inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be indicating your home has higher humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim 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

Fortunately there are several options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside 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, look into purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, portable units require clearing water trays and generally service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level the same like you would choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Auburn and Opelika.

Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
  • Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.