The windows of your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality problem in your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can do to correct the problem.
What Produces Condensation in Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the humid warm air inside your home hitting the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially common over the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When talking about condensation, it’s necessary to recognize the contrast 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 inside a window is created from the warm humid air throughout your home forming against the glass.
- Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, in which case the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be resolved by changing the humidity in your home. Numerous things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean a Problem
Though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be a sign your home has high humidity. If this is the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for extracting moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier running within your home – whether it be a small-scale 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 high, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from one room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Fort Lauderdale.
Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level in your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving within the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
- Opening your window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity inside your home and moving air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.
