The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to let light in as you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you would want to see is a sweaty window plastered in a coating of condensation.

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

What Causes Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the moist warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of your windows. It’s especially commonplace over the winter when it’s much cooler outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s crucial to recognize the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows in comparison to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an air-quality issue and the other is a window issue.

  • Moisture within a window is produced from the warm damp air throughout your home collecting on the glass.
  • Any moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be fixed by fine-tuning the humidity inside your home. Different things produce humidity inside a home, including showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem

Though you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it may also be a sign your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water might also be accumulating 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 several options for removing moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier running inside 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 going and your home’s humidity level is excessive, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

Compact, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, portable units require clearing water trays and most often service a somewhat limited area. A whole-house dehumidifier will extract moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which allows you to establish a humidity level precisely like you would choose a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Winnipeg.

Alternative Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the oven can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these spaces out of your home before it can raise 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 stuck in one spot.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can reduce condensation by preventing the damp air from being trapped against the windowpane.

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