Air Conditioniers and Humidity

Residents of South Florida are familiar with high humidity and how it makes a hot summer day feel even hotter. What a lot of people do not realize is that high indoor humidity also makes you feel warmer, and lowering the humidity in your home can actually help save money on energy bills.

High humidity levels inside the home may be the result of poor ventilation, defective HVAC equipment, leaks in ductwork or other inefficiencies. High humidity levels may lead to mold and mildew growth, rot and other negative consequences such as health problems.

With proper humidity levels, homeowners feel more comfortable in their home at higher temperatures. So by removing moisture from the air, homeowners may actually set their thermostat to higher temperatures without sacrificing comfort.

So how do you lower indoor humidity? There are actually a few things you can do to help.

First, your air conditioner removes humidity. Just make sure that the unit is properly sized for your home. The thermostat does not account for humidity, meaning it could read a certain temperature, but the environment may feel much warmer. An air conditioner that is too large for your home will reach its set temperature quicker, but will not run long enough to effectively remove humidity from the air; you'll often end up setting your thermostat at lower temperatures to make up for increased humidity.

If your air conditioner is properly sized, it may run a bit longer, but it will be removing moisture from the air and will cool the home more easily. A good contractor will take the proper measurements and consider other factors such as window placement when recommending an air conditioner. Never trust a contractor that will not come to your home to provide you with an estimate.