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

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality issue inside your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Causes Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the moist warm air inside your home hitting the cooler surface of your windows. It’s particularly common during 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 important to know the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows versus 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 throughout your home collecting against the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, in which case the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by changing the humidity inside your home. Numerous things generate humidity in a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Could Mean an Issue

Even though you might think condensation in your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be evidence your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water might also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home

The good news is there are numerous options for extracting 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 high, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture into 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 a single room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level the same like you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Erie.

Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
  • Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.

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