The windows of your home are a gateway to the outdoors, a way to allow light in while you enjoy the view of your garden, yard or landscape. The last thing you need to see is a sweaty window plastered 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 issue inside your home. Thankfully, there’s numerous things you can do to address the problem.

What Produces Sweating along Windows

Condensation on the inside of windows is produced by the damp warm air in your home reaching the cold surface of your windows. It’s particularly prevalent over the winter when it’s much colder outside than it is inside your home.

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When discussing condensation, it’s crucial to know the distinction between moisture on the inside of your windows compared to moisture in between the windowpanes. One is an 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 on the glass.
  • The moisture you find between windowpanes is produced when the window seal stops working and moisture gets in between the two panes of glass, and at that point the window has to be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window problem and can instead be resolved by adjusting the humidity across your home. Numerous things generate humidity throughout a home, including showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Sweating Windows Can Be an Issue

Though you might presume condensation on the inside of your windows is a cosmetic problem, it can be a sign your home has excess humidity. If this is in fact the case, water might also be collecting on window frames, cold walls or other surfaces. Even a thin film of water can encourage wood surfaces to mildew or rot over time, fostering the growth of mildew or mold.

How to Reduce Humidity Inside Your Home

Not to worry, because there are various options for eliminating moisture from the air in your home.

If you have a humidifier operating within 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, think about getting a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture inside your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

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

Whole-house dehumidifier systems are managed by a humidistat, which allows you to specify a humidity level just like you would select a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will begin running instantly when the humidity level exceeds 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 Mount Pleasant.

Other Ways to Reduce Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Installing exhaust fans in humidity hotspots including the bathroom, laundry room or above the stove can help by pulling the warm, humid air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level throughout your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air moving within the home so humid air doesn’t get stuck in one place.
  • Open window treatments. Throwing open the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by stopping the humid air from being stuck against the windowpane.

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