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

Not only are windows covered in condensation unappealing, they also can be a symptom of a more serious air-quality problem inside your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can do to correct the problem.

What Creates Condensation along Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home mixing with the colder surface of your windows. It’s notably commonplace during the winter when it’s much colder 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 in comparison to 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 damp air throughout your home forming along the glass.
  • Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and by then the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Many things generate humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be an Issue

Even though you might think condensation inside your windows is a cosmetic problem, it can be evidence your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water could also be condensing 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

Fortunately there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier operating in your home – whether it be a smaller unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home decreases.

If you don’t have a humidifier running and your home’s humidity level is high, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers introduces moisture into 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 an entire room. However, those units require clearing water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will remove moisture across your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which allows you to set a humidity level the same like you would select a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems collaborate with your home’s HVAC system, so you should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Additional Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these spaces out of your home before it can increase the humidity level in your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
  • Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the warm 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 winter.