The windows throughout 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 landscape. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a larger air-quality problem throughout your home. Fortunately, there’s multiple things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Produces Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the damp warm air throughout your home hitting the cold surface of the windows. It’s particularly commonplace over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to know the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture inside a window is caused from the warm damp air in your home collecting on the glass.
  • Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down 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 problem and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity across your home. Many things produce humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, bathing or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean Trouble

Though you might consider condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic concern, it may also be indicating your home has higher humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a slim film of water can cause wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

Not to worry, because there are various options for removing moisture from the air in 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 goes down.

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is high, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture in your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from an entire room. However, these units require emptying water trays and usually service a somewhat limited 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 establish a humidity level precisely like you would choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Odessa.

Additional Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing 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 spaces out of your home before it can elevate the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
  • Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity in your home and moving air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.