How Does My AC Remove Humidity?
Air conditioners perform a wide range of functions, the most important one being regulating indoor temperatures. Other functions include; getting rid of airborne impurities and extracting excess moisture from air circulating in a room. Removing excess humidity is also an important function of HVAC systems because too much moisture in air can make it difficult for you to breath.
AC Machines as Dehumidifiers
When there is warm weather, the air conditioning system can act as a dehumidifier in addition to lowering temperatures and filtering impurities. This is done by condensing water vapor to liquid form and draining the condensate outdoors or into the drainage system of the house. An average-sized AC system can produce as much as 9 gallons of condensate per day. As you may already know, the AC machine in your home draws warm air from the room and passes it over the evaporator or refrigerator lines. As the cold metal pipes and refrigerant absorb heat from the warm air, the moisture-carrying ability of air reduces. The result is condensation of water vapor. The condensate is collected in a pan and drained away into the home’s drainage system.
Signs of High Humidity in Your Home
According to HVAC professionals, the air circulating in a home should have a relative humidity ranging from 40-50%. If the AC machine is not able to maintain humidity levels within the recommended limits, you may want to consider installing a dehumidifier to give your air conditioner a boost. If you start noticing condensation forming on your windows, you may have excessive humidity inside the house. Other signs include; musty odor, mold in the bathroom and under the kitchen sink, water stains on ceilings and symptoms of allergies among other things. In addition to these signs, you may also want to install a hygrometer (humidity-measuring device) to accurately measure the level of humidity in your home.
It is important to note that controlling humidity levels in your home is not enough; you must also identify the main source and address the underlying problem. For instance, high humidity may be a sign of water damage in your home. In such a case, dealing with the water damage problem first before trying to control moisture levels in the house is recommended.
Air conditioners should be serviced on a regular basis to ensure that the condensate pan or tray and the drain are not clogged. If this is not done, the condensate may overflow and leak, staining the wall or ceiling where the indoor air handling unit of the air conditioning system is installed.
Fortunately, R.F. Ohl specializes in the maintenance and installation of AC systems and we can also conduct an AC tuneup for you at a discount price. We always guarantee our work and can maintain any system, regardless of who installed it. Speak with a live representative 24/7.