How do high humidity levels affect your air conditioner and its ability to effectively cool your home? Your home's air conditioner also helps to control the interior moisture level. As high humidity levels reach their summertime peak, take a look at what you need to know about your system, AC repair, and care.
What Are High Humidity Levels?
Moisture in the air increases the humidity level. You may feel the humidity outside and/or inside of your home during the hotter summer months. The air may feel slightly sticky or almost heavy. The extra water vapor or moisture the air holds causes both of these sensations.
Along with humidity, you may have heard the term "relative humidity." Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air compared to how much moisture the air can hold at a specific temperature. This number is a percentage. The higher the percentage, the more uncomfortable you will feel.
What Does Your AC System Have To Do With Humidity Levels?
Your air conditioner cools the interior space and helps to reduce the humidity. How can one HVAC appliance do both? Does this dual-function mean you don't need a dehumidifier in your home?
The coil in a central AC system condenses water vapor (gas) and turns it into liquid. The excess condensation drains out of the system as water and goes into a condensate pump. As the name implies, the condensate pump forces (or pumps) the liquid condensation away from the air conditioner and into another drain.
Does An Air Conditioner Always Remove Excess Indoor Humidity?
A central AC system should remove excess moisture from the indoor air. But this doesn't always happen. An oversized air conditioner unit, some single-speed models, older inefficient air conditioners, systems with improperly designed or sized ventilation/ductwork, and systems with serious wear or damage may leave the interior air with an uncomfortable level of moisture.
How Can You Prevent or Correct AC-Related Indoor Humidity Issues?
Start with the correct size system. A bigger air conditioner is not always better. Even though it may seem like a larger unit would cool your home more quickly, improper sizing can result in poor cooling and high humidity levels. An oversized system may turn on and off more often than necessary. This creates constant short AC cycles that won't fully cool or dehumidify your home.
If you're ready to install a new air conditioner, talk to an HVAC contractor about sizing issues and the right option for your home. Never try to size or install a central system by yourself. This is a job for an experienced professional.
Other steps you can take to prevent or solve high humidity problems include routine AC maintenance, air conditioning repair service, and the use of a dehumidifier. If your air conditioner alone can't control the moisture level, a dehumidifier can take some of the pressure off of the air conditioner. This can increase the system's efficiency and potentially decrease your energy bills.
Contact a local HVAC company, such as Above Par Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC, to learn more.
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