Top 6 tips to manage indoor humidity

With cold winter weather, the appearance of condensation and frost on your home’s interior windows is a common occurrence, but there are some things that you can do to avoid or reduce it from forming on your windows. Condensation on interior windows occurs naturally when interior air with sufficient moisture comes into contact with a cold window surface.

Air can only hold a limited amount of water vapour at any given temperature. As warm room air comes in contact with a cool window surface, the air cools and loses the ability to hold water. If the air’s moisture is high enough or the glass is cool enough, the water in the air will deposit on the glass surface — this is called condensation. As temperatures drop, you can reduce condensation in your home by limiting the amount of moisture in your indoor air.

Here are our top 6 tips to keep your home’s humidity in check this winter.

Ventilation

Ensure that your home is properly ventilated, especially around those areas where condensation is most likely.

Let the sunshine in

Open your curtains and blinds during daylight hours — keeping them closed increases the likelihood of condensation forming with potential for moisture damage.

Adjust your humidifier

Adjust the output of your home’s humidifier to 20 – 25% on coldest winter days.

Use a dehumidifier

If you see condensation accumulating on your windows, run a dehumidifier or ventilation fan to help remove unwanted moisture from your home.

Turn on your fans

Just as you would run the defroster in your car, you should turn on ceiling fans throughout your home and run exhaust fans as needed to remove excess moisture.

Reduce additional humidity

Make sure to keep your fans on during cooking, bathing, cleaning and painting and leave them on for a minimum of 60 minutes afterwards.

9 Comments

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David December 5, 2021 at 8:41 pm

I am new home owner but I got condensation on the walls and despite putting on fan and adjusting the humidifier, nothing has changed. Where and how can I get help?
- ANHWP December 6, 2021 at 9:03 am
  
  Hi David – please contact us for next steps.
Michelle McDiarmid January 11, 2022 at 10:03 pm

How to I arrange for a home inspection? I’ve tried everything and I’m worried it’s causing damage there is discolouring around my attic hatch from water.
- ANHWP January 12, 2022 at 10:55 am
  
  Hi Michelle – you can follow the steps here to file a claim: https://anhwp.com/homeowners/customer-care/how-to-file-a-claim/
  A link to the homeowner portal can be found at the tp of our website (look for the orange button)
Bharat February 25, 2022 at 8:41 am

I am a home owner. I am getting condensation issue on my basement walls. Builder fixed twice (for consecutive 2 years) and even 3rd consecutive this year (3rd year) same issue found and builder is contacted. Water leaking from underside of seal on floor. Mold was found last year on three side walls and extensive repairs were completed.
My 5 year warranty ends Jan 2023. What happens, if I get same issue next year after January 2023? Is still builder liable to get those repairs done?
- ANHWP February 28, 2022 at 2:38 pm
  
  Hi Bharat – thanks for your question. We ask that you contact our team at [email protected] or 1.800.352.8240 – they will be able to guide your next steps.
Don July 28, 2022 at 2:20 pm

My home is 4 years old and the driveway is cracking pretty bad . Would it still be under warranty.
- ANHWP July 28, 2022 at 4:56 pm
  
  Hi Don, typically concrete cracks are considered a first-year issue, however we do recommend you reach out to us at [email protected] to connect with our team of experts who can review with you.