The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or scenery. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered in a layer of condensation.
Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality problem within your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can try to address the problem.
What Produces Condensation on Windows
Condensation on the inside of windows is formed by the damp warm air in your home reaching the colder surface of the windows. It’s especially common around 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 recognize the contrast 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 inside a window is created from the warm moist air in your home condensing against the glass.
- The moisture you notice between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
- Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity in your home. Numerous things generate humidity in a home, like showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.
Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem
Even though you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be evidence your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water might also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.
How to Decrease Humidity in Your Home
Not to worry, because there are several options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.
If you have a humidifier operating inside your home – whether it be a small-scale 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, think about purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers add moisture inside 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 an entire room. However, portable units require emptying out water trays and usually service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture from your entire home.
Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level precisely as you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Long Island.
Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows
- Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level in your home.
- Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing inside the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
- Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.
By lowering humidity across your home and moving air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.