Why Your Windows Are Sweating Indoors and How to Fix It

The windows in your home are a portal to the outdoors, a way to allow light in as you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window covered in a layer of condensation.

Not only are windows coated in condensation unattractive, they also can be a sign of a more substantial air-quality issue in your home. Luckily, there’s several things you can try to address the problem.

What Produces Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is formed by the humid warm air in your home hitting the cold surface of your windows. It’s notably commonplace over the winter when it’s much chillier outside than it is within your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When dealing with condensation, it’s important to understand the contrast 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 inside a window is caused from the warm damp air inside your home condensing against the glass.
The moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture slips between the two panes of glass, and by then the window has to be repaired or replaced.
Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity inside your home. Different things produce humidity throughout a home, like showers, cooking, taking a bath or even breathing.

Why Condensation on Windows Can Be a Problem

Though you might think condensation in your windows is a cosmetic issue, 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 encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, promoting the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home

The good news is there are numerous options for eliminating moisture from the air throughout 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 comes down.

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

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to establish a humidity level just as you would choose a temperature via your thermostat. The unit will start immediately when the humidity level overtakes the set level. These systems coordinate with your home’s HVAC system, so you will want to contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Abilene.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

Exhaust fans. Putting in exhaust fans around humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by pulling the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level in your home.
Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air flowing throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get trapped in one spot.
Open window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the warm air from being caught against the windowpane.

By reducing humidity across your home and dispersing air throughout your home, you can make the most of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.