The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality issue within your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can try to resolve the problem.
What Creates Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the humid warm air throughout your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s notably commonplace during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When dealing with condensation, it’s important to recognize the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture inside a window is caused from the warm moist air throughout your home forming against the glass.
- Any moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, in which case the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be resolved by changing the humidity inside your home. Many things cause humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Even though you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If this is 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 Inside Your Home
Fortunately there are numerous options for extracting moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier operating in your home – whether it be a small-scale unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home decreases.
If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from an entire room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level the same as you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Bishop.
Additional Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can raise the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
- Opening your window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the humid air from being trapped against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity in your home and moving air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.