If beads of water run down the inside of your windows during cold weather, also known as window condensation, it’s not necessarily a sign you’ve got bad windows. It’s likely your windows are doing what they’re supposed to do — keeping outdoor air outside.

Wet windows can indicate two different but related problems. Indoor humidity levels in your house may be too high, or the quality of air inside your home probably isn’t what it should be.

Tips to stop window condensation

The solution to both these issues is increased ventilation. Experiment by running exhaust fans and range hoods longer and more often than usual. Open a couple of windows an inch or two at the same time. Fresh, low-moisture air is drawn indoors as stale, humid air is forced outside.

With sufficient ventilation, indoor humidity levels will drop and your windows will dry out. The quality of air you breathe will also improve. The only trouble is heat loss — you’ll be losing precious heated air to the outdoors.

Want to have fresh air without raising your heating costs? A ventilation appliance called a heat recovery ventilator is the solution. It draws fresh outdoor air into your home while recovering most of the heat from stale, humid indoor air that it expels outside. A properly installed and operated HRV will solve wintertime window condensation and boost indoor air quality.

If you install an HRV, make sure you hire someone who’s properly qualified to do this type of specialized work. The Canadian Home Builder’s Association can help you connect with a heating and ventilation pro who can solve your condensation problems and boost indoor air quality. Find more information at www.getitinwriting.ca and for even more home tips, visit Home Maintenance on the blog.