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

Not only are windows covered in condensation unsightly, they also can be a sign of a more serious air-quality deficit within your home. Fortunately, there’s multiple things you can attempt to correct the problem.

What Creates Condensation on Windows

Condensation on the interior of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home hitting the cooler surface of the windows. It’s especially prevalent in 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 important to know 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 inside a window is caused from the warm moist air inside your home forming on the glass.
  • Existing moisture you notice between windowpanes is formed when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation in the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be fixed by adjusting the humidity across your home. Different things generate humidity in a home, such as showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Could Mean an Issue

Although you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it could also be evidence your home has high humidity. If this is in fact the case, water could also be collecting 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 Throughout 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 inside your home – whether it be a small 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, consider installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers put moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t get too dry, a dehumidifier draws excess moisture out of the air.

Small, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying water trays and usually service a small area. A whole-house dehumidifier will eliminate moisture from your entire home.

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are regulated by a humidistat, which enables you to specify a humidity level precisely like you would pick a temperature on your thermostat. The unit will run automatically when the humidity level exceeds the set level. These systems work with your home’s HVAC system, so you will receive the best results if you contact experienced professionals for whole-house dehumidifier installation Myrtle Beach.

Alternative Ways to Eliminate Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can raise the humidity level across your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Spinning ceiling fans can also keep air swirling throughout the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one spot.
  • Opening your window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can decrease condensation by stopping the warm air from being trapped against the windowpane.

By decreasing humidity across your home and circulating air throughout your home, you can take advantage of clear, moisture-free windows even in the winter.