The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in when you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality problem throughout your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Produces Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the damp warm air throughout your home mixing with the cold surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent around the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to recognize 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 produced from the warm humid air inside your home collecting along the glass.
  • The moisture you find between windowpanes is produced 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 situation and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Different things produce humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be Trouble

Though you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it could also be evidence your home has excess humidity. If this is 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, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier operating within your home – whether it be a small 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, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and most often service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture from your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Rapid City.

Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans around humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air flowing throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
  • Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the warm air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity inside your home and moving air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.