You depend on your air conditioner to create a cool and refreshing environment for your family during hot weather. However, when the humidity levels start to climb inside your home, your air conditioner may not be able to keep up because of its cooling capacity, thus leaving you feeling miserable and in search of relief!
Your air conditioner’s limited cooling capacity vs high indoor humidity levels
Your air conditioner’s role is to remove excessive heat and humidity from inside your home. And most of the time, it does a great job at keeping your family feeling comfortable. But once the humidity levels soar, there’s only so much your system can do. This will cause your unit to work extra hard in order to keep up with the demands set by your thermostat.
In turn, you may notice that during the worst of summer, your energy bills start to climb. This is a result of your AC needing to work nearly constantly to try and keep your home cool.
What can I do to stay (and keep!) my cool during the summer?
To take care of this common cooling system problem, the solution may be to get a dehumidifier installed on your air conditioner. The devices are designed to remove excess water (humidity) from the air while your AC does its job to keep your home cool and comfortable. This way, your cooling system isn’t doing all the work when it comes to keeping your family feeling refreshed during the summer.
Often, when a dehumidifier is installed with an AC, you will have a new thermostat which allows you to control both the humidity level and temperature inside your home.
What are the signs of high humidity levels?
You may notice the following inside your home:
- Air feels extremely muggy.
- Your skin feels clammy.
- Your windows have condensation on them or look “foggy.”
- Your home has a musty, foul odor.
- You may notice an increase in mold growth on walls, ceilings, or in bathrooms.
What should the humidity level inside my home be?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your indoor humidity should be around 30-50%. Not only is this a comfortable range for you, but it can also help with preventing dangerous mold growth.
How can I measure my indoor humidity level?
Use a hygrometer. It’s similar in appearance to a thermometer, but rather than measuring the temperature, it will measure the humidity level.
Why is it important to control the humidity inside my home?
Failure to keep humidity levels at a normal range (30-50%) may result in an uncomfortable environment for your family, wear and tear on your cooling system, as well as mold and bacteria growth which could make your loved ones sick.