The windows in your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality deficit throughout your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can do to correct the problem.

What Produces Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the humid warm air inside your home mixing with the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly prevalent during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to understand 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 on the inside of a window is caused from the warm damp air in your home forming on the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal stops working 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 solved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Numerous things cause humidity in a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be indicating 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 slim film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

Fortunately there are several options for removing moisture from the air in 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 decreases.

If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from one room. However, those units require emptying water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture from your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level the same like you would choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Alternative Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range 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. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing within the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.

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