The windows in your home open up to the outdoors, a way to draw light in when you take in the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality issue in your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can try to address the problem.

What Produces Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the moist warm air inside your home mixing with the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly common during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the distinction 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 moist air throughout your home forming on the glass.
  • The 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 should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity in your home. Numerous things generate humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be an Issue

Though you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water could also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease 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 smaller 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 excessive, look into 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.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying water trays and most often service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture throughout your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which permits you to establish a humidity level the same like you would select a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Payson.

Other Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by extracting the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout 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 stopping the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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