The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality deficit in your home. Luckily, there’s multiple things you can attempt to resolve the problem.
What Produces Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the interior of windows is created by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the cold surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent around the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.
Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes
When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to understand the distinction 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 on the inside of a window is created from the warm moist air in your home forming along the glass.
- Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window should be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be resolved by changing the humidity across your home. Different things produce humidity in a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble
Though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be indicating your home has higher humidity. If that’s the case, water might also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Lower Humidity Inside Your Home
Thankfully there are several options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.
If you have a humidifier running within your home – whether it be a small 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 higher than you prefer, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture into your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.
Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, those units require clearing water trays and most often service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture throughout your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level precisely as you would choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Odessa.
Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level in your home.
- Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air flowing within the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one area.
- Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the humid air from being caught against the windowpane.
By lowering humidity in your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.