The windows of your home open up to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window coated in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be a symptom of a larger air-quality issue in your home. Fortunately, there’s several things you can do to address the problem.

What Causes Sweating in Windows

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

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s important to know 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 humid air in your home condensing along the glass.
  • The moisture you find between windowpanes is formed when the window seal fails and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and by then the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation inside the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be solved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Numerous things produce humidity in a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath 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 concern, it could also be evidence your home has high humidity. If that’s the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity in Your Home

Fortunately there are various options for extracting moisture from the air throughout 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 going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, look into purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture into your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which permits you to set a humidity level precisely like you would select a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Port St. Lucie.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one area.
  • Opening up window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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