The windows in your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let 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 coated in a coating of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality deficit throughout your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can try to address the problem.
What Causes Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the cold surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to understand the distinction 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 produced from the warm humid air throughout your home forming on the glass.
- The moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Numerous things produce humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Even though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water might also be collecting 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 Lower Humidity in Your Home
Not to worry, because there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier operating within 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 going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from an entire room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and usually 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 as you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Hasbrouck Heights.
Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
- Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.