The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window coated in a coating of condensation.
Not only are windows covered in condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality issue within your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can try to correct the problem.
What Causes Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the humid warm air in your home reaching the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly commonplace around the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within 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 indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.
- Moisture inside a window is produced from the warm damp air inside your home forming against the glass.
- Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Many things generate humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Even though you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be a sign your home has higher humidity. If that’s the case, water might 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, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air in your home.
If you have a humidifier operating in 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 running and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.
Small, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and generally service a fairly small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level just as you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Bend.
Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level in your home.
- Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
- Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by stopping the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.
By reducing humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.