The windows throughout your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a larger air-quality issue inside your home. Luckily, there’s multiple things you can attempt to resolve the problem.
What Causes Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the damp warm air inside your home hitting the cold surface of your windows. It’s especially commonplace over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When dealing with condensation, it’s important to recognize 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm damp air in your home collecting on the glass.
- Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Different things cause humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, laundry 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 that’s the case, water may also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home
Thankfully there are various options for extracting moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier running within 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 higher than you prefer, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers add moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level precisely as you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Lake Forest.
Additional Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
- Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By lowering humidity in your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.