How to Prevent Condensation on House Windows

Window condensation is caused by moist air in your home.

As you look out the window, you may think it's raining outside at first glance, but on closer inspection you find that your windows have condensation on them. This moist dew on the inside of your house windows is unsightly and can cause warping of wooden window frames as it rolls down the glass. Condensation rarely has to do with the window installation, but with the overall moisture in your home's air, says construction expert Tim Carter of Ask the Builder. You can fix aspects of your home that cause air moisture to prevent window condensation.

Things You'll Need

• Caulk
• Damp paper towel

Instructions

1. Inspect the casing of your windows for cracks that can let moist air into your house. Fill any cracks on the inside and outside of the home with caulk. Apply a thin layer of caulk inside the crack. Smooth out the caulk line with a caulk tool or a damp paper towel. This will reduce moisture from entering your home when it rains, according to the Scherer Brothers Lumber Co. It will also improve energy efficiency.

2. Open all air vents in your home to ensure proper ventilation. This will disperse moist air throughout the home so that it doesn't get trapped as window condensation. Ensure that your clothes dryer is venting air outside of your home rather than inside to prevent more moisture from gathering in the air in your home.

3. Turn on ceiling fans in your home to circulate the air, especially when performing domestic activities that increase moisture such as using the shower. Install ceiling fans in all rooms of your home that have window condensation problems. For a quick fix, plug in free-standing fans in these rooms to clear out the moisture and circulate the air. Turn on exhaust fans in your bathroom when you shower or bathe.

4. Turn off humidifiers in your home. If condensation is building up on your house windows, your home air is humid enough without the added help. Some furnaces have built-in humidifiers that blow moist air through the heating ducts. Turn off this humidifier as well to reduce air moisture and prevent window condensation.

5. Limit the amount of moisture-creating domestic activities performed at the same time. The more you do these activities at once, such as showering, boiling water and drying clothes, the higher the moisture in the air. Prevent window condensation by waiting to do each activity separately rather than all at once.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact a building contractor if you're still having window condensation problems after performing all of these steps.

References

• Scherer Brothers Lumber Co.: How to Prevent Window Condensation
• Ask the Builder: Condensation on New Windows