Have you experienced high humidity during summer, then you know the discomfort it can bring? Not only does it feel muggy but high humidity also increases your risk for skin infections and other medical issues.
Luckily, well-maintained air conditioners work to eliminate excess moisture; in fact, ideally they should keep humidity levels between 30%-50% which is ideal for comfort and health. In some instances however, your air conditioning system could actually increase humidity instead of decrease it; should this occur, it’s essential that it be understood why and what can be done about it.
Air conditioners work to dehumidify your home by extracting moisture through evaporation, draining it into the unit’s drip pan and then down its condensate line to be removed from your system. However, in certain instances condensation build-up on filters or coils of an AC may reduce its ability to extract humidity, leading to an unpleasantly muggy home environment.
In some instances, if the air conditioner’s settings are set to a mode that recirculates air without sufficient cooling (like in “fan only” mode), it may also give the feeling of increased humidity due to the lack of dehumidification happening. Regular maintenance of your air conditioner is recommended to ensure it’s effectively reducing humidity.
High indoor humidity levels can lead to many issues in your home. From creating a sticky, muggy feeling to leading to mold growth and musty odors in different rooms of your house, high indoor humidity can have disastrous results for any family’s lifestyle. It may even increase dust mites or other microorganisms residing there which could eventually cause health concerns for everyone living within its borders.
Humidity can also wreak havoc with expensive furniture and appliances by causing them to crack, warp, or rot; it can even destroy paint and wallpaper. Although your AC can help control humidity levels in your home, sometimes this alone isn’t enough to prevent damage that occurs; if your home feels overly humid consider investing in a dehumidifier in addition to an air conditioning system.
Your air conditioning may also be the source of excessive humidity, depending on its age and level of maintenance performed on it. Your AC may have trouble maintaining temperatures while simultaneously controlling humidity if its refrigerant levels drop or mechanical issues arise in its operation, leading to extreme humidity levels in the home or workplace.
If your air conditioner is struggling to manage humidity in your home, it could be due to overcrowding. High numbers of people can lead to an increase in humidity through perspiration and natural evaporation of water; to combat this problem use circulating fans or make sure your AC unit is sized appropriately – this will prevent it from using up too much energy trying to cool and dehumidify. For help on any humidity-related issue contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning directly today and one of their expert representatives will discuss available solutions! If your AC just isn’t keeping up with humidity issues contact them today so they can assist.
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