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

Not only are windows covered in condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a larger air-quality issue within your home. Thankfully, there’s numerous things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Produces Sweating along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially commonplace during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows compared 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 humid air throughout your home collecting against the glass.
  • Any moisture you see between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Many things cause humidity in a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Could Mean a Problem

Although you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be evidence your home has high humidity. If that’s 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, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity in Your Home

The good news is there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier running within 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 going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from an entire room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and usually service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level just like you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Phoenix.

Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

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

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