The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality issue throughout your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can try to correct the problem.

What Causes Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the moist warm air throughout your home hitting the cooler surface of the windows. It’s particularly common 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 necessary to know the distinction 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm humid air inside your home collecting 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 situation and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Numerous things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean an Issue

Though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic problem, it can be a sign your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home

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

If you have a humidifier running within your home – whether it be a small 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, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture in your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, those units require emptying water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture from your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level just like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Newark.

Alternative Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.

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