The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality issue throughout your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can do to address the problem.
What Causes Sweating in Windows
Condensation on the inner layer of windows is created by the humid warm air throughout your home reaching the cooler surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent in the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When talking about condensation, it’s necessary to understand 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 inside a window is caused from the warm moist air inside your home condensing against the glass.
- The moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Numerous things generate humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Sweating Windows Can Be a Problem
Even though you might presume condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be evidence your home has excess humidity. If that’s the case, water may 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 in Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside 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 comes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is high, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from a single room. However, these units require emptying water trays and generally service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level just like you would select a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Libertyville.
Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air flowing throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
- Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.