Do you still feel the humidity in your home even when your air conditioner is turned on? A properly-functioning air conditioner will cool down your house while also getting rid of humidity. So what causes humidity to stay? To answer this question, furnace installation contractor Bill Reynolds Heating & Air Conditioning explains here.
High levels of humidity inside your house can affect your health as well as your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. It’s best to try to maintain an ideal level of humidity along with a comfortable temperature. In this article, we’ll discuss the reason for high humidity even when the air conditioner is on, as well as issues it can cause and how you can deal with it.
Causes of High Humidity Even When the AC Is Running
There are a number of causes of high home humidity. The following are some common reasons why there may still be high levels of humidity inside your house even when the air conditioner is on.
Air conditioning issues. The most common cause of high humidity is an air conditioner that’s failing to dehumidify as it should. The evaporator coils in your air conditioner are supposed to get rid of humidity. The evaporator will accept liquid refrigerant, then use it to cool your house. If the evaporator coils are frozen, however, they won’t be able to cool and dehumidify the air. To prevent this, you should always check the state of your air conditioner. It’s best to hire a professional for maintenance and air conditioning repair services.
You should also keep your HVAC system clean and free of dust, dirt and debris. Dirt and debris can affect your air conditioning unit’s functions and can even cause serious issues. Accumulated dirt can also block your air conditioner’s condenser coils and disrupt its refrigerant cycle, which can slow down the cooling process and prevent dehumidification.
Overcrowding. Even if your air conditioner is running properly without any issues, it can’t accommodate increased levels of humidity. High levels of humidity can be caused by too many warm bodies inside your house. Your air conditioning unit will have a hard time cooling down and dehumidifying the air if there are too many people inside. Too much moisture in the air caused by the warmth and perspiration of too many people can contribute to high humidity levels. Avoid overcrowding indoors and consult a cooling and heating service contractor for the right HVAC system for you.
Cooking inside. Cooking inside without proper ventilation can also cause high humidity levels, as water evaporating from the stove can contribute to moisture in the air. To prevent this, it’s important to cook with the windows open or the exhaust fan on. Even bathing can increase humidity indoors due to the steam. Air circulation should be encouraged inside your house to prevent humidity and moisture buildup.
High humidity levels outside. You should also observe the level of humidity outside. Even with the air conditioner running, if the level of humidity outside is high, your home will be affected. Thunderstorms on a hot day, for example, increase the level of moisture in the air, causing that hot, sticky feeling. If your area’s climate is always humid, it’s best to consult a professional who can recommend a suitable cooling and heating service system for your home.
Issues Caused by High Humidity
Health risks. It’s important not to ignore a high level of humidity inside your house, as high humidity can lead to health risks and adverse effects on your body. It can also contribute to low energy and a feeling of lethargy. In extreme cases, it can even cause hyperthermia due to overheating as a result of your body’s inability to effectively dispel heat. High humidity can cause dehydration, fatigue, fainting and heatstroke.
Home interior damage. Too much humidity inside your home can also damage your interior and lead to the growth of mold and mildew in the damp areas of your house. Mildew appears as the white or grey patches that can form on shower curtains, windowsills and tiles. Meanwhile, mold is black or dark green and can penetrate deeper into wooden materials and soft furnishings. Mold can also trigger health problems and allergies, weaken ceilings and walls and compromise the structural integrity of your home.
Condensation caused by humidity can damage your wall’s paintwork and wallpaper. Flaky paint or curling wallpaper is a sign of excess moisture in your home. Before repainting or putting on new wallpaper, it’s best to determine the root cause of the condensation, repair as needed, then dehumidify.
Air conditioner damage. A number of problems can result from high home humidity levels. First, this can overwork not just your air conditioning unit but your whole HVAC system. When humidity is high, your air conditioner tends to try hard to dehumidify. Overworking your HVAC system can cause damage and compromise how it performs its various functions. It can also cause energy consumption and utility bills to increase. It’s best to not ignore air conditioning issues and hire a trusted professional for any necessary air conditioning repairs.
How to Deal With High Humidity
While air conditioners have dehumidifying properties, simply continuing to run your air conditioner isn’t the most ideal solution to a high level of humidity in your home. Unless your air conditioner is specifically equipped with special humidity controls, then it can be considered helpful to balance out the humidity in other ways. To maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity, installing a whole-house dehumidifier is the best solution. There are high-quality dehumidifying devices that a specialist can integrate into your HVAC system. A dehumidifier can guarantee good indoor air quality, as well. Dehumidifiers that are designed to accommodate your whole house use a similar action to air conditioners, removing moisture from the air using a refrigerant-cooled coil. It collects the moisture from the air and then drains it.
Bill Reynolds Heating & Air Conditioning offers quality furnace installation services. Call us at (440) 946-7863 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
High humidity levels in your home can harm your health as well as your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. It is best to try to keep an ideal level of humidity as well as a comfortable temperature. Thank you!
What should humidity level I house be
we installed Mitsubishi 6K mini-split in bedroom, during Summer, cool mode, the room humidity from 52% up to 70% after run6-7 hrs during night, I couldn’t sleep well, the air technician of installed Co. checked Freon no leaking, couldn’t find the problem, do you think inside unit fault? do you think to install a MHK control panel will help—Mitsubishi Rep advise, please advice and help..
The fact that high humidity can be a sign of damage really makes me think something is wrong with our unit. Every time we use it, the room ends up getting quite sticky and uncomfortable, and that’s the opposite of what I want whenever I use that appliance. If I can find an HVAC expert in the area, I’ll definitely ask them to help us fix that right away.
High humidity levels can affect not only your wellbeing but also the efficiency of your furnace and air conditioner. While it is important to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature during hot or cold weather, it is just as critical to keep the humidity at an ideal level year-round. To reduce your home’s humidity, you might consider investing in a dehumidifier if needed.