The windows of your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unappealing, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality problem throughout your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can do to resolve the problem.

What Causes Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is created by the moist warm air throughout your home mixing with the colder surface of the windows. It’s particularly commonplace in the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to recognize 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 within a window is caused from the warm damp air in your home collecting along the glass.
  • Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity across your home. Many things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem

Though you might consider condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be evidence your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water could also be condensing on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

Fortunately there are several options for removing moisture from the air throughout your home.

If you have a humidifier active within your home – whether it be a small unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home comes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, look into installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to specify a humidity level the same like you would select a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will run immediately when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Albuquerque.

Other Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air moving inside the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity inside your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can enjoy clear, moisture-free windows even in the middle of the winter.