Understanding Window Condensation & How To Clear It Up

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably trying to get rid of condensation on your windows – and well, we can’t blame you. 

While Minnesota is known for its extreme weather conditions, cue the Minnesota blizzard of ‘91 – sometimes it still surprises us. Whether it’s hot, humid, or cold, the weather impacts everything around us, even our homes. 

When purchasing or building a new home it’s important to pay attention to what your home is telling you. Sometimes it’s a new noise, a leaky gutter, or condensation on your windows. While these things might seem trivial at first, they’re crucial to the health of your home.

Windows provide natural light, warmth, and the ability for us to enjoy the beauty around us. While shielding us from the blazing sun and the freezing winds, it’s no surprise that your windows might have a bit of condensation on them during this time of year. Simply put, condensation on your windows occurs when an object is cooler than the air around it, the water molecules in the air come together and “stick” to the surface, forming a thin layer of water droplets. While today’s homes are more energy-efficient and airtight than ever, it’s not uncommon to have condensation on your windows in your home, however, it’s important to understand what can result from window condensation if you’re home isn’t as energy-efficient or airtight as a new home.

Why Worry About Window Condensation?

Condensation can cause damage. Once it melts, it transfers moisture to whatever is nearby. Things such as

• Wood frames: sash can warp and become difficult to operate
• Paint: paint can begin to peel and other finishes become mottled or stained
• Insulation: your insulation, ceilings, and walls may become damp
• Siding and finishes: may become blistered or warped 
• Health: mold and mildew may appear on your interior surfaces 

Looking for the best ways to get rid of condensation on your windows? – Look no further than the five tips below!  

Getting Rid of Condensation

Step 1 – Ventilation

Now is a good time to double-check the ventilation in your home, specifically in your bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room, and basement. Inadequate ventilation not only leads to condensation on your windows but can cause the proliferation of mold which is harmful to your health.

Tip: We recommend homeowners turn their furnace fans to run continuously as well as make sure that the HRV or ERV is on and running on high.

Step 2 – Fans and defibrillators

If your home already has exhaust fans and dehumidifiers you don’t have to do much to prevent excess moisture in your home; simply try running them for longer periods of time.

Step 3 – Water

We all know how hard it is to hop out of a nice hot and steamy shower, but all in all, showering for shorter periods of time and installing water-restricting faucets will not only decrease the humidity in your home but put money back into your wallet.

Step 4 – Cook creatively

When cooking try to cover your pots and pans, use your microwave more often and cook meals in your crockpot. We encourage you to get creative!

Step 5 – Divert water away

Keep your basement and foundation dry by diverting water away from your home. This can be done by cleaning and inspecting your gutters, monitoring foliage near your home, and properly grading around the foundation. 

Relative Humidity

As we mentioned previously, new homes are built more airtight than ever, what these homes need is the proper way(s) of getting rid of excess humidity.

What is Relative Humidity?

Relative humidity describes the amount of moisture in the air at a given temperature. Keeping relative humidity lower helps to reduce moisture problems in homes. The following table below states the humidity levels that should be kept inside your home in the winter. Keep in mind, when the relative humidity is more than 50%, several moisture problems can occur under certain interior and exterior conditions. 

If you’re not sure what the humidity levels are inside your home, it’s best to have an HVAC contractor measure it for you. Otherwise, the following thermostats provide interior humidity levels.

• Google Nest 
• Ecobee Smart 
• Honeywell T9

Looking to upgrade your thermostat? Here are the top recommendations for 2022.  

Reducing Indoor Moisture
The principle of reducing condensation on your windows is simple. But, if you’re still experiencing window condensation then it’s time to give these tips a try.

• Turn off your furnace humidifier or other home humidifiers
• Open drapes and blinds to allow warm house air to circulate
• Check your dehumidifiers to make sure they are well-drained
• Run ventilating fans in the kitchen and bathroom longer and more often
• Open a door/ window after the bathroom, kitchen or laundry has steamed up

If there’s condensation that lingers after these additional steps be sure to have an HVAC contractor stop by for further recommendations. And don’t forget if you’ve recently moved into a new home or remodeled home it’s normal to have indoor moisture stick around for a few weeks.

Window Condensation In your new home

If you recently built a new home with Sustainable 9, and are worried about condensation on your windows, remember; it’s not uncommon to have condensation on your windows (especially when it’s cold).

At Sustainable 9, we work with top-of-the-line vendors and only use high-quality materials to ensure your home is built with products that last, and have a minimal environmental impact.

If you’re interested in creating a sustainable, clean, and modern home, reach out today to get started on a consultation meeting. On that note, we’d love to hear which of these tips made a difference in your home – share with us in the comment section below!