The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality problem inside your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can attempt to address the problem.
What Creates Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the moist warm air throughout your home reaching the cooler surface of the windows. It’s particularly prevalent in the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When talking about condensation, it’s necessary to understand 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 caused from the warm humid air in your home forming on the glass.
- Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, in which case the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Many things generate humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Although you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be evidence your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small 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
Not to worry, because there are various options for extracting moisture from the air throughout your home.
If you have a humidifier active inside 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 running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put 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 an entire room. However, those units require clearing water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level the same as you would choose a temperature via 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 will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation McHenry.
Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as 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. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing within the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
- Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.