The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be a symptom of a larger air-quality issue inside your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can do to address the problem.

What Produces Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home reaching the cooler surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent around the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s necessary to recognize the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture inside a window is caused from the warm moist air throughout your home forming on the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and by then the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Many things produce humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Could Mean a Problem

Although you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water could also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home

Not to worry, because there are various options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier active within your home – whether it be a small-scale unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home decreases.

If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is excessive, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level precisely like you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation South Beloit and Belvidere.

Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity in your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.