The windows throughout your home open up to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality deficit within your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can attempt to resolve the problem.

What Causes Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the moist warm air throughout your home hitting the cold surface of the windows. It’s particularly commonplace over the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s important to know the distinction 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 on the inside of a window is caused from the warm moist air inside your home forming against the glass.
  • The moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Many things cause humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be a Problem

Although you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it can be evidence your home has higher humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be accumulating 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 Lower Humidity in Your Home

Fortunately there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air inside 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 excessive, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, these units require emptying water trays and usually 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 the same like you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Brookfield.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity in your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.