The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality issue inside your home. Luckily, there’s multiple things you can do to address the problem.
What Causes Sweating in Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the moist warm air inside your home hitting the cooler surface of the windows. It’s notably commonplace in 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 important to recognize the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture within a window is caused from the warm humid air inside your home collecting on the glass.
- Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, in which case the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Many things produce humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Could Mean an Issue
Although you might presume condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water could also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home
Thankfully there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier operating inside your home – whether it be a smaller 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, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.
Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying water trays and usually service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level just like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Mason City.
Alternative Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level throughout your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
- Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By lowering humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.