The windows throughout your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be a symptom of a larger air-quality deficit in your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can try to resolve the problem.
What Creates Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the humid warm air in your home reaching the colder surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When dealing with condensation, it’s necessary to recognize the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture within a window is created from the warm damp air throughout your home collecting along the glass.
- The moisture you find between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity in your home. Different things produce humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Although you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be indicating your home has excess humidity. If that’s the case, water may 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 Lower Humidity Inside Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier active within your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture in your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from one room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and generally service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which enables you to set a humidity level just as you would choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Macon.
Additional Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can raise the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
- Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the damp air from being trapped against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity across your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.