Keeping your Helendale, CA, home comfortable is a function of not only reducing the temperature but also managing your humidity. What you may not know is that letting your humidity continue uncontrolled negatively affects your air conditioner and comfort. Although the area doesn’t usually experience high humidity outdoors, you can still experience it inside your house. Discover the impact humidity has on AC performance, signs it’s too high and what you can do to control it.
Intersection Between Your AC and Humidity
You already know that high humidity makes you feel uncomfortable, creating what’s called a heat index. Your AC system improves your home’s comfort in two ways; first by cooling the air, and second by reducing humidity.
When humidity levels are high, your AC system still leaves a lot of moisture in the air. This often leads to longer cooling cycles trying to achieve a comfortable temperature.
It also causes your system to strain while trying to achieve a comfortable environment. As your system draws moisture from the air, it could lead to freezing of the evaporator coil. This freezing then reduces your cooling capacity, causes short-cycling and increases the need for AC repairs and your energy consumption.
Signs Your Humidity’s Out of Control
There are telltale signs your home has uncontrolled high humidity. You may experience:
- Muggy indoor air.
- Musty odors.
- Condensation on your windows.
Dealing With Indoor Humidity
Start dealing with excess humidity by waiting for moisture-generating tasks until the cooler parts of the day. This may include doing dishes or laundry and taking hot showers.
Next, change your air filter regularly and get routine maintenance to maintain your air conditioner’s cooling capacity. Finally, consider installing a dehumidifier, either in problematic rooms or as part of your HVAC system.
Make sure you get all the benefits of running your AC system by keeping your humidity in check. Schedule an indoor air quality consultation with our specialists at Clemmer Services Heating & Air Conditioning to discuss your options.
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