The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality problem within your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can try to address the problem.
What Causes Condensation in Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the moist warm air in your home reaching the cold surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is in 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 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 produced from the warm damp air throughout your home condensing against the glass.
- Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity in your home. Numerous things produce humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be indicating your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water may also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin 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 various options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.
If you have a humidifier active in your home – whether it be a small unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level precisely as you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Chadron.
Alternative Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level in your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air swirling within the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
- Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the humid air from being trapped against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.