The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality problem inside your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can try to correct the problem.
What Creates Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the damp warm air throughout your home reaching the cooler surface of your windows. It’s notably common over 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 crucial to recognize the distinction 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 caused from the warm damp air throughout your home forming against the glass.
- The moisture you find between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity inside your home. Many things produce humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Even though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If that’s the case, water might also be accumulating 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 Throughout Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for extracting moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier active in 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 excessive, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from an entire room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and generally service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level precisely as you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Port St. Lucie.
Alternative Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can raise the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one place.
- Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity inside your home and moving air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.