The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a more serious air-quality deficit inside your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can attempt to address the problem.
What Creates Condensation in Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the moist warm air in your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s particularly prevalent in the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s necessary to know the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture on the inside of a window is caused from the warm humid air inside your home forming on the glass.
- Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture gets in 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 issue and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Different things cause humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Although you might presume condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it can be evidence your home has higher humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home
The good news is there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier active in your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home decreases.
If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is high, look into getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers add moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, portable units require clearing water trays and usually service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level just as you would select a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation the Rio Grande Valley.
Other Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can raise the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
- Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.