The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a more serious air-quality problem throughout your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can try to address the problem.

What Produces Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the humid warm air inside your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s notably common around 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 understand 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 inside a window is caused from the warm damp air in your home forming along the glass.
  • Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Many things cause humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be a Problem

Although you might presume condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be evidence your home has excess humidity. If that’s the case, water might also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home

Thankfully there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier operating inside 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 going and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, those units require clearing water trays and most often service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level just like you would select a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Wilmington.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating inside the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one area.
  • Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the humid air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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