The windows throughout your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a coating of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a more serious air-quality deficit within your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can attempt to correct the problem.
What Produces Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the humid warm air inside your home hitting the cooler surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent around 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 crucial to recognize the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture within a window is created from the warm damp air in 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, 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 solved by adjusting the humidity in your home. Numerous things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Even though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be indicating your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water might also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home
Fortunately there are various options for removing moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier operating in 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 higher than you prefer, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers add moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from an entire room. However, those units require emptying water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level the same as you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will run automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Ballwin and St. Charles.
Alternative Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
- Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.