The windows throughout your home open up 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 coating of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality deficit inside your home. Fortunately, there’s multiple things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Creates Sweating along Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the humid warm air in your home mixing with the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly commonplace around the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows versus 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 humid air inside your home collecting on the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be solved by changing the humidity in your home. Numerous things generate humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be a Problem

Even though you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be indicating your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water could also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are several options for removing moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside 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 active and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from an entire room. However, portable units require clearing water trays and generally service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Newton.

Alternative Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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