The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality problem inside your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Causes Condensation in Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is created by the humid warm air throughout your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent over the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows compared 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 inside your home condensing along the glass.
  • Existing 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 should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Numerous things produce humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Although you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be evidence your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water could also be accumulating 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 Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are various options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier running within your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from an entire room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level the same like you would pick 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 want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Alternative Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one place.
  • Opening your window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the damp air from being trapped against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity across your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.