The windows throughout your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in while you take in the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you want to see is a sweaty window coated in a coating of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality deficit within your home. Thankfully, there’s several things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Causes Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is created by the humid warm air throughout your home hitting the colder surface of your windows. It’s particularly prevalent during 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 understand the distinction 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 on the inside of a window is caused from the warm moist air inside your home collecting on the glass.
  • Any moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down 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 solved by fine-tuning the humidity in your home. Many things generate humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean a Problem

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

How to Reduce Humidity Throughout Your Home

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

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

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is high, look into purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture into your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier extracts excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are controlled by a humidistat, which allows you to establish a humidity level just like you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will begin running automatically when the humidity level surpasses the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation South Beloit and Belvidere.

Additional Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans near humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air circulating throughout 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 humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.

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