The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you take in the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a coating of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality deficit in your home. Thankfully, there’s numerous things you can attempt to resolve the problem.
What Produces Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the moist warm air inside your home mixing with the cold surface of the windows. It’s especially prevalent over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in 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 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 against the glass.
- The moisture you see 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 should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be resolved by changing the humidity in your home. Many things produce humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Although you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be a sign your home has higher humidity. If this is in fact the case, water might also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity in Your Home
Thankfully there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier running in your home – whether it be a small-scale unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, those units require clearing water trays and most often service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level precisely as you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Marshfield.
Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
- Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity in your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.