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

Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality issue in your home. Luckily, there’s multiple things you can do to correct the problem.

What Causes Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the damp warm air throughout your home reaching the cold surface of your windows. It’s notably common during the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is in your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

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

  • Moisture on the inside of a window is produced from the warm damp air inside your home forming against the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal fails and moisture gets in 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 fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Many things generate humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be an Issue

Even though you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic concern, it can be evidence your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be accumulating 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 Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

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

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is excessive, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from one room. However, those units require emptying water trays and generally service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Tucson and Phoenix.

Additional Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by extracting the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the damp air from being caught 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.