The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window covered in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality issue within your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can do to correct the problem.
What Causes Condensation along Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the humid warm air inside your home hitting the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent during the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is within your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When dealing with condensation, it’s important to recognize the contrast between moisture on the inside of your windows compared 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 collecting against the glass.
- The moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Different things generate humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Although you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it can be indicating your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water could 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 Throughout Your Home
The good news is there are numerous options for removing moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier operating in 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 active and your home’s humidity level is excessive, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from an entire room. However, portable units require clearing water trays and generally service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture across your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level the same as you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running immediately when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Naples.
Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level inside your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
- Opening your window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the humid air from being trapped against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity inside your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.