The windows throughout your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality problem inside your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can attempt to correct the problem.
What Produces Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the inner layer of windows is created by the moist warm air throughout your home mixing with the colder surface of the windows. It’s notably common during 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 necessary to understand the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture inside a window is produced from the warm damp air in your home condensing on the glass.
- The moisture you find between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, in which case the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by changing the humidity in your home. Different things generate humidity in a home, such as showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Even though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be evidence your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home
The good news is there are various options for removing moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier active within your home – whether it be a small 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 higher than you prefer, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level the same as you would select a temperature via 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 should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Beckley and Mount Hope.
Alternative Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air circulating inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one area.
- Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity in your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.