Humidity and Your AC

Have you ever heard someone say, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”? What causes discomfort during the long San Antonio summers is not necessarily the high temperatures, but the stifling humidity. This humidity can wreak havoc on your air conditioning system. In exploring humidity inside the home, your HVAC contractor in San Antonio, TX has found some interesting facts that will help keep you comfortable.

Removing Humidity

Your air conditioner’s job is not only to reduce the temperature inside your home, but also to reduce the humidity. The AC works hard to remove extra moisture from the air to make the home more comfortable. When you work with an experienced and knowledgeable HVAC technician, they will make sure that an efficient system is installed that will do the job of removing the right amount of moisture, as well as keep the temperature at the right level.

Just because a larger capacity air conditioning system is at work in your home doesn’t necessarily mean that it will produce the cooling effect you are looking for. The larger the capacity, the less able it will be to remove moisture, since more powerful air conditioners don’t need to run as much. This is why it’s so important to match the capacity of the air conditioner with the needs of the home.

Ideal Humidity Levels

Most homeowners will find their comfort level at a temperature range between 70 and 75 degrees. These are comfortable temperatures year-round as long as the humidity stays within the 50 to 60 percent range. Anything higher will begin to feel too sticky, while lower will feel too dry. Ideally, your air conditioner should be able to reduce the humidity in your home to less than 60 percent.

Is Humidity a Problem?

You will be able to tell if humidity is a problem in your house if you experience muggy discomfort in your home each summer. This means your air conditioner is not working as it should. Some clear signals that humidity is a problem include:

• There is a musty or damp smell in your home
• The air feels moist in your home
• The windows in your home are foggy

How to Dehumidify

If humidity is a problem in your home, there are several options at your disposal. One option to dehumidify your home would be to purchase dehumidifiers for each room. This option has the advantage of having a low upfront cost. However, the dehumidifiers will continually need to be replaced. They are also unsightly and are high maintenance, since they need to be emptied and cleaned often.

Another option is to invest in a new, more efficient air conditioner. In working with your HVAC professional, you can select the right fit that will run just enough to pull the right amount of moisture from the air. The disadvantage to this option is the upfront cost.

The best way to handle high humidity in your home is to have a dehumidifier installed in your HVAC system. The dehumidifier will pull moisture from the air before it is sent through the air ducts. This is a cost effective and energy saving option to pair with larger capacity air conditioners. Your HVAC technician can suggest a compatible dehumidifier for your system.

Find the Right HVAC Contractor in San Antonio, TX

The most important decision you can make in dealing with the humidity issue in your home is in finding the right HVAC contractor in San Antonio, TX. It’s important to choose an HVAC contractor with decades of air conditioning system experience, as well as a personal touch. At Air Conditioning Unlimited LLC, we have been San Antonio’s trusted air conditioning professionals since 1996. Call us today to see how comfortable your home can be this summer.

Categorised in: HVAC Contractor