The windows of your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or scenery. 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 unappealing, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality deficit throughout your home. Fortunately, there’s multiple things you can attempt to resolve the problem.

What Creates Sweating in Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the humid warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially commonplace around the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s necessary to know the difference 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm moist air in your home forming against the glass.
  • Any moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity across your home. Many things cause humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be a Problem

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

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

Not to worry, because there are various options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside your home – whether it be a smaller 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 high, consider 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.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from an entire room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and most often service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level just like you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Manassas.

Additional Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these rooms 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 inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
  • Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing 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 winter.