The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality deficit inside your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Produces Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the moist warm air in your home hitting the cooler surface of your windows. It’s particularly common in the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture within a window is produced from the warm humid air in your home condensing along the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Different things produce humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Although you might think condensation on the inside of 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 small film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home

Fortunately there are various options for eliminating moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier operating 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 active and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from one room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and usually service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level just like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Additional Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air flowing inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.