How To Reduce Indoor Humidity
There are a variety of adverse effects caused by high humidity. Humid conditions cause immediate personal discomfort and can make you ill. The heat and humidity of the summer months are uncomfortable. Your home can feel stuffy and you sweat. Although we can do nothing about outdoor humidity, there are options for controlling humid environments indoors. Our focus with this article is intended to highlight the health effects of high humidity and how you can use your air conditioner to reduce a humid home.
Harmful mold, mildew, and bacteria thrive in environments that are high in humidity. Humid, hot conditions are perfect breeding grounds where these harmful organisms grow and spread.
Mold spores and mildew cause a number of breathing problems like allergies, asthma, and dermatitis. They compromise the immune system.
Dust mites are also happiest in hot, humid environments and represent the number one culprit in agitating asthma and allergic reactions.
People become sick more often in humid indoor environments and this point is even more obvious when humid households are compared to those with controlled humidity levels.
How Much Humidity Is Right In Your Home?
You can create the appropriate humidity levels in your home by ensuring that your HVAC system and air conditioning are efficient and working properly. The right moisture levels in your home help it feel warmer in the winter when it is cold outside. Likewise, lower humidity levels can help it feel cooler during hot summer months. You and your family will feel uncomfortable when humidity levels are too high. Regardless of the time of year, this will always be true. Your AC actually helps to remove excess moisture from the indoor air. Ideal conditions within the home are achieved with humidity levels are between 45% and 55%. Achieving this constant level of moisture helps disperse a comfortable temperature throughout the home and prevent mold and mildew. In northern climates, 80% humidity is high. When it is that high, people begin feeling uncomfortable.
During summer months, you can help manage humidity levels by discontinuing the use of humidifiers. Use the air conditioning system to assist with the removal of excess moisture from the environment. You can even use exhaust fans to help cool the home and ensure proper humidity levels. Here is what you can do during the winter months:
- Use room humidifiers
- Increase the number of plants in each room
- Add a small basin of water to the room near the heating system.
How Air Conditioning Systems Remove Humidity
Modern air conditioning systems help regulate indoor humidity. It does this through the use of its evaporator coil. It condenses moisture in the air. The moisture is then removed from the atmosphere around it. It is collected in the units evaporator coil and drains out through a line that ends outside the unit.
It is important to also consider the individual air conditioning unit. Window units are adequate for maintaining correct humidity levels in small spaces like a home office or bedroom. They are often not sufficient for the purpose of being used in a living room or large master bedroom. In order for your air conditioning system to cool the air and remove moisture, it needs to be the right size. An HVAC unit that is too large will undoubtedly short cycle and the compressor will not run long enough to cool the entire home. On the other hand, one that is too small for the space will not have the power to handle incoming and outgoing air and defeats the overall purpose for having it. Be sure to contact a reputable HVAC contractor to help you with AC sizing.
Dehumidifier Hazleton PA
The air conditioner plays a vital role in controlling high levels of humidity. Essentially, it acts like a dehumidifier. However, when your A/C is not working properly, it will not be able to suitably remove the humidity from your home. If this is your situation, call R.F. Ohl to come and inspect your AC. Furthermore, an air conditioner tune-up can help your home feel more comfortable and reduce the cost of keeping it cool. R.F. Ohl offers a number of different home comfort services. Click here to find out more.
We service Beaver Meadows PA 18216, Ebervale PA 18223, Harleigh PA 18225, Hazleton PA 18201, Junedale PA 18230, Lattimer Mines PA 18234, Mcadoo PA 18237, Milnesville PA 18239, Pardeesville PA 18243, and Tresckow PA 18254. We also service all of Carbon County, Monroe County, Lehigh County, Northampton County, and Schuylkill County.
R. F. Ohl is proud to be an authorized dealer for Bryant systems. Although we service all makes and models of HVAC equipment, this means that we have partnered with this reputable brand and specialize in offering high-quality services for these systems. We believe that Bryant has stood out from most other heating and cooling equipment manufacturers and we are glad to represent them. To learn more about Bryant systems, click here.
Contact us today or give us a call at (610) 377-1098 if you have any questions.