Excess humidity can cause many problems, including mold growth, musty odors, structural damage, and an unpleasant muggy feeling. That’s why it’s important to control humidity if you hope to improve indoor air quality and home comfort.
The ideal relative humidity level is around 30 to 50 percent. Summer is typically the toughest time of year to stay in this range. Fortunately, running the air conditioner can help.
After all, air conditioning doesn’t solely cool your home—it also lowers humidity. Here’s a look at how this works, along with tips to control indoor humidity levels.
Contrary to popular belief, your air conditioner doesn’t add cool, dry air in your home—it eliminates heat and humidity. The process requires refrigerant, which absorbs heat and moisture effectively from the indoor air. Here’s the process:
Using the air conditioner may be enough to lower the relative humidity below 50 percent in dry climates. But if high humidity is still a problem in your home, try these tips.
Run the exhaust fan in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room when you shower, cook and wash clothes. Spot ventilation removes humidity at the source to keep these rooms more comfortable. You can also open a window when it’s mild outside to let in fresh air.
Water on shower tiles, kitchen counters and laundry room floors raise indoor humidity and may stimulate mold growth. Wipe up standing water promptly to prevent these problems.
If you struggle with extreme humidity in the summer, look into installing a whole-house dehumidifier that runs in tandem with your air conditioner to make your entire home more comfortable. A whole-house unit can even operate independently of the AC to eliminate humidity on milder days without running the air conditioner. This technique saves you money and doesn’t leave you with that “cool but clammy” feeling.
The condensation that collects on the evaporator coil needs time to accumulate and trickle away. If you run the air conditioning fan continuously, the moisture will blow back into your home. That’s why it’s better to adjust the fan to “auto” so it only runs when the AC compressor turns on. You should be able to adjust this setting easily on your thermostat.
A clogged filter traps dust and debris and may harbor mold growth if it becomes wet. This introduces moisture and mold spores into your home every time the AC is running. Change the air filter each month or as recommended by the manufacturer to lower indoor humidity and improve air quality.
Optimizing the fan speed can be tricky. High airflow helps the AC meet your cooling demand on the hottest days, but this may lead to shorter cycles that prevent effective dehumidification. Work with an HVAC technician to help you choose the right fan speed for your comfort needs.
A grimy coil can’t cool and dehumidify efficiently. If your cooling is having trouble reaching the desired temperature, get in touch with our HVAC specialists to maintain your cooling system and clean the evaporator coil. Cooling and dehumidifying performance should improve as a result.
A depleted supply of refrigerant can impair your air conditioner’s ability to do its job. Left alone, serious issues such as a frozen evaporator coil or compressor failure could develop. Only a certified HVAC technician can fix refrigerant leaks and refresh the system as required, giving you another reason to schedule an AC tune-up.
If your home has consistent comfort problems and your air conditioner is wearing down, it could be time for a replacement. Choose a new AC unit with advanced features, including a thermal expansion valve (TXV) and variable blower motor. A TXV delivers the precise amount of refrigerant determined by the air temperature, and a variable blower motor adjusts the fan speed to meet demand. Both features improve cooling and dehumidifying performance.
If you decide it’s time to install a whole-house dehumidifier or swap out your air conditioner, Calverley Service Experts can help. Our HVAC services are designed to optimize home comfort and energy efficiency for your long-term satisfaction. To ask questions or schedule a visit from one of our qualified 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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