The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as 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 coating of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality problem within your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Causes Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home hitting the cooler surface of your windows. It’s particularly commonplace over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to know the contrast 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 produced from the warm humid air inside your home forming on the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal stops working and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity in your home. Many things generate humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Although you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be evidence your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home

Fortunately there are various options for eliminating moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside your home – whether it be a small 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 high, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying water trays and usually service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture from your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level just like you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can raise the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.