The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to draw light in as you take in the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window coated in a film of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unappealing, they also can be a sign of a more serious air-quality deficit within your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can attempt to address the problem.

What Creates Condensation on Windows

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

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s necessary to know 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 on the inside of a window is produced from the warm humid air in your home forming against the glass.
  • The moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal fails and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, in which case the window needs to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window issue and can instead be fixed by changing the humidity in your home. Numerous things produce humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be Trouble

Though you might think condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic issue, it can be indicating your home has higher humidity. If this is the case, water could also be accumulating on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can help wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, increasing the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Decrease Humidity in Your Home

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

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

If you don’t have a humidifier active and your home’s humidity level is high, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t dry out, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level just like you would select a temperature on 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 should contact qualified professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation .

Other Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like 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 across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air swirling inside the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the damp air from being trapped against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity inside your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even during the winter.