The windows throughout your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality problem throughout your home. Fortunately, there’s numerous things you can do to correct the problem.
What Causes Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the damp warm air inside your home mixing with the colder surface of the windows. It’s particularly commonplace over the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s important to know the difference 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 on the inside of a window is caused from the warm humid air inside your home condensing against the glass.
- Any moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity in your home. Different things produce humidity inside a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Although you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic concern, it can be evidence your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water may also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home
The good news is there are various options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier operating in your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home decreases.
If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers add moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, those units require clearing water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level just as you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Alice.
Alternative Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one place.
- Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By lowering humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.