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

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

What Creates Condensation in Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is formed by the humid warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of the windows. It’s particularly commonplace over the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the difference 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm damp air throughout your home condensing on the glass.
  • Any moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity across your home. Different things cause humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

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

How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air inside 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 decreases.

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is high, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from an entire room. However, those units require clearing water trays and generally service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to specify a humidity level the same like you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level exceeds 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 .

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity inside your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.