Unwanted humidity can cause many problems, like mold spores, musty smells, structural damage, and an unpleasant muggy feeling. That’s why it’s important to balance humidity if you hope to increase indoor air quality and home comfort.
The recommended relative humidity level is between 30 to 50 percent. Summer is typically the toughest time of year to stay inside this range. Luckily, running the air conditioner can help.
After all, air conditioning doesn’t only cool your home—it also decreases humidity. Here’s info about how this works, along with tips to balance indoor humidity levels.
Contrary to popular belief, your air conditioner doesn’t put in cool, dry air in your home—it takes out heat and humidity. The process necessitates refrigerant, which stores heat and moisture effectively from the indoor air. Here’s the process:
Using the air conditioner will sometimes be enough to push the relative humidity below 50 percent in dry climates. But if high humidity is still a problem in your home, consider these tips.
Run the exhaust fan in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room when you shower, cook and wash clothes. Detached ventilation lowers humidity at the source to keep these rooms a cooler temperature. You can also open a window when it’s milder outside to allow in fresh air.
Water on shower tiles, kitchen counters and laundry room floors increase indoor humidity and may stimulate mold growth. Clean up standing water promptly to prevent these problems.
If you grapple with increased humidity in the summer, consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier that runs in tandem with your air conditioner to make your entire home more comfortable. A whole-house system can even operate separately from the AC to lower humidity on milder days without running the air conditioner. This technique saves you money and avoids that “cool but clammy” feeling.
The condensation that collects on the evaporator coil needs time to accumulate and drip away. If you use the air conditioning fan continuously, the moisture will blow right back in your home. That’s why it’s better to adjust the fan to “auto” so it is only on when the AC compressor switches on. You should be able to change this setting easily on your thermostat.
A clogged filter traps dust and debris and can support mold spores if it gets wet. This sends moisture and mold spores into your home each time the AC is running. Change the air filter once a month or as advised by the manufacturer to decrease indoor humidity and increase air quality.
Refining the fan speed can be tricky. Strong airflow helps the AC meet your cooling demand on scorching summer days, but this might cause shorter cycles that block effective dehumidification. Coordinate with an HVAC technician to help you determine the best fan speed for your comfort requirements.
A dirty coil can’t cool and dehumidify efficiently. If your AC is having trouble sustaining the desired temperature, call our HVAC specialists to maintain your cooling system and clean the evaporator coil. Cooling and dehumidifying capabilities should improve as a result.
A depleted supply of refrigerant can impair your air conditioner’s ability to carry out its job. Left alone, major issues including a frozen evaporator coil or compressor failure can happen. Only a skilled HVAC technician can fix refrigerant leaks and recharge the system as necessary, giving you another reason to schedule an AC tune-up.
If your home has consistent comfort trouble and your air conditioner is getting older, it might be time to replace it. Install a new AC system with innovative features, like a thermal expansion valve (TXV) and variable blower motor. A TXV offers the perfect amount of refrigerant determined by the air temperature, and a variable blower motor adjusts the fan speed to satisfy demand. Both features reinforce cooling and dehumidifying performance.
If you believe it’s time to install a whole-house dehumidifier or swap out your air conditioner, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Our HVAC services are structured to maximize home comfort and energy efficiency for your long-term satisfaction. To ask questions or request a visit from one of our certified heating and cooling technicians, please contact us today.
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There’s no reason to skip your seasonal maintenance that saves energy and helps ensure your air conditioner and heater will work reliably all season long.
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