The windows throughout your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality problem inside your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can try to resolve the problem.
What Produces Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home hitting the colder surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent around the winter when it’s much chillier 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 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 created from the warm moist air in your home collecting against the glass.
- Any moisture you see between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, in which case the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity across your home. Different things produce humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Though you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be a sign your home has excess 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, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home
Fortunately there are various options for removing moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier operating 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 going and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into purchasing 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.
Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from an entire room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and most often service a fairly 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 precisely as you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Crestview.
Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can raise the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
- Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity inside your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.