The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a more serious air-quality deficit within your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can attempt to address the problem.
What Produces Condensation in Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the humid warm air in your home mixing with the colder surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When talking about condensation, it’s necessary to recognize the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to 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 created from the warm damp air inside your home collecting on the glass.
- Existing moisture you find between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window needs to 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. Numerous things produce humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Although you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be a sign your home has higher humidity. If this is in fact the case, water might also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity in Your Home
Thankfully there are various options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier active in your home – whether it be a small-scale unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, look into getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture in your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from one room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to set a humidity level the same as you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Naples.
Alternative Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate 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 stuck in one area.
- Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the warm air from being trapped 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 during the winter.