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

Not only are windows coated in condensation unsightly, they also can be a symptom of a more substantial air-quality deficit inside your home. Fortunately, there’s multiple things you can try to correct the problem.

What Causes Sweating in Windows

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

Inside Moisture vs. In Between Panes

When talking about condensation, it’s important to recognize 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 within a window is caused from the warm moist air in your home forming along the glass.
  • The moisture you see between windowpanes is caused when the window seal breaks down and moisture seeps between the two panes of glass, and by then the window should be repaired or replaced.
  • Condensation on the inside of the windows isn’t a window situation and can instead be solved by adjusting the humidity in your home. Numerous things cause humidity inside a home, like showers, cooking, laundry or even breathing.

Why Indoor Sweating on Windows Can Be a Problem

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

How to Lower Humidity Throughout Your Home

Thankfully there are various options for eliminating moisture from the air inside your home.

If you have a humidifier active inside your home – whether it be a small 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 excessive, think about installing a dehumidifier. While humidifiers adds moisture in your home so the air doesn’t become too dry, a dehumidifier pulls excess moisture out of the air.

Smaller, portable dehumidifiers can eliminate the water from a single room. However, those units require emptying out water trays and generally service a somewhat limited 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 choose a temperature with your thermostat. The unit will start instantly when the humidity level surpasses 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 Lexington.

Additional Ways to Decrease Condensation on Windows

  • Exhaust fans. Adding exhaust fans in humidity hotspots like the bathroom, laundry room or above the kitchen range can help by drawing the warm, moist air from these areas out of your home before it can increase the humidity level inside your home.
  • Ceiling fans. Turning on ceiling fans can also keep air circulating within the home so humid air doesn’t get caught up in one spot.
  • Opening up window treatments. Opening the blinds or drapes can lower condensation by preventing the warm air from being trapped 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.