The windows throughout your home open up to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a coating of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality issue inside your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can attempt to address the problem.
What Causes Condensation in Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the humid warm air inside your home hitting the cold surface of the windows. It’s particularly prevalent around the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s necessary to recognize the distinction 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 created from the warm moist air throughout your home condensing on the glass.
- The moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips 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 issue and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Different things cause humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Even though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be a sign your home has excess humidity. If that’s the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home
The good news is there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.
If you have a humidifier operating in 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 high, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduce moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across 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 via your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Fort Lauderdale.
Alternative Ways to Eliminate 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 spaces out of your home before it can raise the humidity level across your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air flowing within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
- Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity in your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.