The windows in your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you appreciate the view of your garden, yard or other surroundings. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window coated in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows plastered with condensation unattractive, they also can be evidence of a more substantial air-quality issue inside your home. Luckily, there’s numerous things you can try to resolve the problem.

What Creates Sweating in Windows

Condensation on the inner layer of windows is produced by the humid warm air inside your home reaching the cooler surface of your windows. It’s notably commonplace around the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

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

  • Moisture within a window is caused from the warm damp air throughout your home collecting along the glass.
  • Existing moisture you see between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down 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 situation and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Many things produce humidity throughout a home, such as showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be Trouble

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

How to Decrease Humidity Inside Your Home

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

If you have a humidifier running in your home – whether it be a small-scale unit or a whole-house humidifier – lower it further so the humidity inside your home goes down.

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

Small, portable dehumidifiers can absorb the water from a single room. However, these units require emptying out water trays and usually 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 enables you to establish a humidity level precisely like you would choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start instantly when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact skilled professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Cambridge.

Additional Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans near humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these rooms out of your home before it can increase the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Running ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one place.
  • Opening your window treatments. Pulling open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by preventing the damp air from being caught against the windowpane.

By lowering humidity inside your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.