The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to draw light in when you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality deficit inside your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Produces Sweating in Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the humid warm air in your home hitting the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly prevalent during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s important to understand the contrast 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm moist air throughout your home collecting against the glass.
  • Existing moisture you find between windowpanes is produced when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Many things cause humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Could Mean a Problem

Even though you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it can be evidence your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water might also be collecting 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 Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are several options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from an entire room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and generally service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level precisely like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Moline.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding 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 increase the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity in your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.