The windows of your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in when you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a more serious air-quality problem in your home. Fortunately, there’s numerous things you can do to address the problem.
What Produces Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the moist warm air in your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially commonplace during the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When talking about condensation, it’s important to understand the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture inside a window is created from the warm damp air in your home collecting on the glass.
- Any moisture you find between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity in your home. Numerous things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Even though you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be evidence your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water might also be condensing 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 Throughout Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for removing moisture from the air inside 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 comes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is high, look into getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and most often service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level precisely as you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Cottonwood & Prescott.
Alternative Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans around humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving within the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one area.
- Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.