The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a more serious air-quality issue within your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can try to address the problem.
What Produces Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the inner layer of windows is formed by the damp warm air in your home hitting the cooler surface of the windows. It’s especially commonplace over the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is inside your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to understand 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 within a window is produced from the warm damp air inside your home condensing on the glass.
- The moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails 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 solved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Numerous things cause humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is in fact 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, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity in Your Home
Fortunately there are several options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier operating in your home – whether it be a small 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 higher than you prefer, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from an entire room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and generally 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 establish a humidity level just as you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Chelan and Wenatchee.
Additional Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can raise the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
- Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.