The windows in your home open up to the outdoors, a way to draw light in when you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality issue within your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can try to address the problem.

What Produces Sweating in Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is created by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the cooler surface of the windows. It’s notably common in the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s necessary to understand the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture inside a window is created from the warm humid air in your home collecting along the glass.
  • Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused 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 issue and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity across your home. Numerous things produce humidity in a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be Trouble

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

How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home

Not to worry, because there are various options for extracting moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier active in your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is high, look into purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture in 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 an entire room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and generally service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture from your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level just like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Rockford.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.

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