The windows in your home open up to the outdoors, a way to let light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows covered in condensation unappealing, they also can be evidence of a larger air-quality issue in your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can try to resolve the problem.

What Creates Sweating on Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the moist warm air inside your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent 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 crucial to understand the difference between moisture on the inside of your windows versus moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an indoor air quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture within a window is produced from the warm moist air in your home condensing along the glass.
  • Any moisture you see between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, in which case the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Numerous things generate humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be an Issue

Even though you might consider condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, it could also be indicating your home has excess humidity. If this is the case, water may 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, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity in Your Home

Thankfully there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.

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

If you don’t have a humidifier going and your home’s humidity level is higher than you prefer, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level precisely like you would choose 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 will want to contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Delray Beach.

Additional Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans near humidity hotspots such as the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the damp air from being stuck against the windowpane.

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