The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality issue within your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can attempt to address the problem.
What Produces Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the humid warm air inside your home reaching the cooler surface of the windows. It’s especially prevalent in the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to know the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture within a window is caused from the warm damp air throughout your home collecting along the glass.
- Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity in your home. Different things cause humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue
Even though you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be a sign your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water might 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, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity in Your Home
Fortunately there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air throughout 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 goes down.
If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is high, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.
Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from a single room. However, those units require clearing water trays and most often service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level precisely as you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Kearney.
Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
- Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity in your home and moving air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.