The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered 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 inside your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can do to address the problem.

What Produces Sweating along Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the damp warm air inside your home mixing with the cooler surface of the windows. It’s especially prevalent during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s important to understand the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to 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 forming along the glass.
  • Any moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Numerous things produce humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be Trouble

Though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home

The good news is there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.

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

If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is high, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which allows you to establish a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will run automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Hudsonville.

Other Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
  • Opening up window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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