Winter window condensation can cause a host of damage, from mold growth to mildew and wood rot. It’s important for homeowners to prevent the buildup of condensation to protect the integrity of the window frames and their home. The following are 11 effective strategies to help prevent window condensation.

How does window condensation form?

The cold winter months are when window condensation often occurs. The heat is turned on inside the home, which produces warm, humid air. When this humid air comes in contact with the cold, dry surface of the windows, water droplets form. These droplets are known as condensation.

Condensation can occur in various places, such as outside the window, inside the window, or between the panes. Wintertime is the most common season when condensation forms on the interior surface of the windows but this can be cut down by reducing the home’s humidity.

How is winter window condensation prevented?

To keep your windows clear and your home comfortable, follow this checklist for preventing condensation on your windows during the colder months:

• Check Humidity Levels: Combating winter window condensation starts with lessening the amount of humidity in the home. The ideal humidity level is between 30 and 50 percent. Homeowners can purchase a humidity monitor to ensure they maintain the recommended and safest humidity levels.
• Use a Dehumidifier: As mentioned, lowering the humidity inside the home in winter can prevent condensation from forming on the windows. Running a dehumidifier in the home is an effective way to combat humidity. This electrical device works by extracting water from the air.
• Turn on Exhaust Fans: Humidity also reaches the windows due to everyday activities, like showering and cooking. A tightly sealed home retains the moisture released by these activities. When cooking, cover pots and pans to contain excess humidity. Run the kitchen exhaust fan to remove moisture from the air. The same strategies apply to bathrooms. During a shower, turn on the bathroom fan. After showering, leave the bathroom exhaust fan on for 20 to 30 minutes. This helps circulate humid air out of the home and keeps it from reaching the windows and forming condensation.
• Open Interior Doors: Optimize air circulation throughout the home by leaving interior doors open in winter. Moist air escapes, allowing dry air to circulate. This simple but effective tactic prevents humidity from building up in a particular space and causing condensation on the windows.
• Insulate Windows: Add weatherstripping or window film to the windows in winter to insulate them. As an extra layer of protection against the cold, the weatherstripping reduces the differences in temperatures between the warm interior window surface on the colder exterior surface—which prevents condensation.

• Relocate House Plants: Plants naturally release moisture into the air through a process called transpiration. The excess moisture can lead to condensation on the windows. Rather than crowd the plants around one window and cause humidity to collect in that spot, shift them to different, well-ventilated areas of the home.
• Open Curtains: During the daytime in winter, keep curtains open. Ventilation improves when air circulates freely around the windows. It also minimizes condensation on the windows because the natural light warms up the interior windows, decreasing the interior and exterior surface temperature differences.
• Choose Thin Curtains: Thick curtains and blinds trap air around the windows, causing them to become colder and produce additional condensation. While thick window treatments prevent cold air from spreading throughout the home, it’s advised to avoid them. Instead, add further weatherstripping to insulate.
• Turn on Ceiling Fans: Another tactic that helps prevent winter window condensation is the use of ceiling fans. Run them in a clockwise direction in the winter to push warm air down. Also consider opening windows if the weather isn’t too chilly; this allows trapped, moist air out of the home.
• Turn up the Heat: Keeping the windows at a warm temperature prevents condensation from forming. Maintain a warmer home by turning up the heat slightly. Place fans near the windows to blow warm air toward the glass surfaces, which also dries up any water droplets that have already formed.
• Use a Condensation Remover: Commercial products that remove condensation are available to homeowners. They absorb excess moisture to help prevent condensation, mold growth, and mildew. However, it’s advisable to use these products sparingly, as overuse introduces chemicals and potentially harmful substances into the home. Some window condensation is normal. Only when the condensation is excessive does damage begin to appear. Wooden window frames crack, blister or warp with prolonged exposure to moisture. The water can also drip beyond the window and lead to water damage inside the home.

Professional Water Damage Restoration

Various signs of household water damage include rotted wood, mold infestations, mildew growth, and peeling wallpaper. Homeowners who notice water damage should consult a professional water damage company for immediate restoration. Unaddressed water damage spreads rapidly, making repairs more costly. Contractors who provide water damage restoration services can help you stop water condensation on windows and provide immediate water damage repairs.

IICRC certified technicians arrive at your property to assess the extent of the damage. They run advanced water extraction equipment and powerful drying machinery, like air movers and dehumidifiers, to remove all traces of excess moisture. Techs then clean and restore damaged goods.

Even if your water damage disaster is severe, specialists are ready with high-tech equipment, like truck-mounted extractors, and years of industry expertise to resolve the issue swiftly. They also apply antimicrobial treatments to further enhance the safety of the home or commercial property.

When mold has taken hold as a result of water damage, technicians remove the colonies. Offering repair and reconstruction, professional water damage cleanup services are comprehensive. Home and business owners rely on quality services to solve all their water damage issues.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.