The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in when you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window covered in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality issue in your home. Fortunately, there’s multiple things you can do to resolve the problem.

What Creates Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the moist warm air inside your home mixing with the colder surface of the windows. It’s notably prevalent over the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s necessary to know 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm humid air in your home forming along the glass.
  • The moisture you find between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity in your home. Many things cause humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean Trouble

Even though you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it may also be indicating your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are several options for removing moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside your home – whether it be a smaller 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 higher than you prefer, consider getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can remove the water from one room. However, those units require clearing water trays and usually service a fairly 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 specify a humidity level just like you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Lafayette.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can raise the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one area.
  • Opening your window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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