The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality problem throughout your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can try to resolve the problem.
What Creates Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the moist warm air in your home reaching the cold surface of the windows. It’s especially prevalent over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to understand the difference 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 moist air inside your home condensing along the glass.
- Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and by then the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Many things cause humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Though you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be a sign your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water may also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim 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
Thankfully there are various options for eliminating moisture from the air throughout your home.
If you have a humidifier running within 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 excessive, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers add moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and generally service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level the same as you would choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start instantly when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Columbus.
Additional Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans around humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
- Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.