The windows in your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality problem inside your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can try to correct the problem.

What Causes Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the humid warm air in your home mixing with the cold surface of the windows. It’s particularly prevalent over the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside 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 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 inside your home forming against the glass.
  • The moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity in your home. Many things cause humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Even though you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be evidence your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier active within your home – whether it be a small-scale 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, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to specify a humidity level the same like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity in your home and moving air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.