The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality problem inside your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can do to address the problem.
What Creates Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the inner layer of windows is formed by the damp warm air in your home reaching the colder surface of the windows. It’s especially common in the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s important to recognize the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture within a window is produced from the warm moist air inside your home forming along the glass.
- Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Many things cause humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Even though you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be evidence your home has high humidity. If this is in fact the case, water might also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim 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 several options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier operating inside 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 running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, 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 usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level precisely as you would pick a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Omaha.
Additional Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can raise the humidity level throughout your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
- Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.