The windows of your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you want 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 sign of a larger air-quality deficit inside your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Produces Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the humid warm air in your home reaching the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly prevalent during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing 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 on the inside of a window is created from the warm moist air in your home condensing against the glass.
  • Existing moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Different things generate humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

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

How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home

The good news is there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside 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 going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, look into getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture in your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from an entire room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and generally service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level the same like you would select a temperature via 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 should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Additional Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans near humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one area.
  • Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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