The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. 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 sign of a more serious air-quality deficit within your home. Fortunately, there’s numerous things you can try to correct the problem.

What Creates Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the moist warm air in your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially common in the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s important to recognize the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture inside a window is produced from the warm moist air inside your home condensing against the glass.
  • Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity in your home. Numerous things cause humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be Trouble

Though you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home

Fortunately there are several options for eliminating 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 goes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from an entire room. However, these units require clearing water trays and generally service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level just like you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Thousand Palms.

Alternative Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity inside your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.