The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window covered in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality problem throughout your home. Fortunately, there’s numerous things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Causes Sweating in Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the humid warm air throughout your home hitting the cold surface of the windows. It’s notably common during 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 important to recognize the contrast 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 within a window is created from the warm moist air inside your home collecting along the glass.
  • Any moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in 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 issue and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Numerous things produce humidity in a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Could Mean an Issue

Though you might presume condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be indicating your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water might also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

Thankfully there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air in 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 installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture into your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts 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 generally service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level just like you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Muldrow.

Additional Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the warm 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.