The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window coated in a coating of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality problem inside your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can attempt to resolve the problem.
What Creates Condensation in Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the damp warm air in your home hitting the cold surface of the windows. It’s notably commonplace during the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is in your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When dealing with condensation, it’s important to know 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 within a window is caused from the warm damp air in your home forming on the glass.
- Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity inside your home. Many things produce humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Sweating Windows Can Be a Problem
Although you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be evidence your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water may also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home
The good news is there are several options for extracting moisture from the air in 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 going and your home’s humidity level is high, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and generally service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to specify a humidity level precisely like you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation New Castle.
Alternative Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level throughout your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
- Opening your window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.
By decreasing humidity in your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.