The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality deficit inside your home. Fortunately, there’s numerous things you can do to correct the problem.

What Creates Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the cooler surface of the windows. It’s particularly commonplace around 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 crucial to understand the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture inside a window is produced from the warm moist air inside your home forming along the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by changing the humidity in your home. Numerous things generate humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Could Mean a Problem

Though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be indicating your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home

The good news is there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier operating 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, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, portable units require clearing water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture from your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level the same like you would choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Des Moines.

Additional Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like 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 raise the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air flowing within the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.