The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unattractive, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality issue within your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can do to address the problem.

What Creates Sweating along Windows

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

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s necessary to know the contrast 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 within a window is caused from the warm moist air inside your home condensing against the glass.
  • Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Many things cause humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be an Issue

Though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be evidence your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

Thankfully there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier running within your home – whether it be a small 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 installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture in your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which enables you to set a humidity level the same like you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Bartlesville.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the humid air from being trapped against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity in your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.