The windows in your home open up to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a film 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. Luckily, there’s several things you can do to correct the problem.

What Causes Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the damp warm air inside your home reaching the colder surface of your windows. It’s particularly commonplace over the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s crucial to understand 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 moist air throughout your home collecting against the glass.
  • Any moisture you find between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity across your home. Many things cause humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be a Problem

Even though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may 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 thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home

Thankfully there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier running inside 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 going and your home’s humidity level is high, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Northglenn.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans near 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 throughout 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.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity in your home and moving air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.