The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality issue within your home. Thankfully, there’s multiple things you can try to correct the problem.

What Causes Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the damp warm air throughout your home mixing with the cooler surface of your windows. It’s especially prevalent during the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s important to recognize the contrast 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 within a window is created from the warm damp air inside your home forming against the glass.
  • The moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be resolved by changing the humidity in your home. Different things cause humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be Trouble

Although you might presume condensation in your windows is a cosmetic problem, it can be indicating your home has higher humidity. If this is in fact the case, water may also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a small film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Lower Humidity in Your Home

The good news is there are various options for extracting moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside your home – whether it be a small 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 getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from one room. However, portable units require emptying 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 pick a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Winnipeg.

Alternative Ways to Lower Condensation on Windows

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

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