To say that summer is almost here is kind of silly in our area. With our temperatures always pretty high, we get regular use out of our cooling systems. But there is one summer threat we have that can make the higher temps even more unbearable—and that’s humidity.
Humidity levels tend to rise as temperatures do, adding extra moisture—water vapor—to the air and making it much harder for us to get comfortable as we can’t just sweat the heat out. And even though humidity doesn’t increase the temperature, it does make us feel warmer—when this is going on in your house, you need a sufficient solution. That solution is a San Antonio, TX dehumidifier installation.
Does Humidity Impact Your Comfort That Much?
The relative humidity at which most people feel comfortable in their homes is typically between 30-50%. When humidity levels exceed this, your body starts to feel warmer, no matter what the temperature is on the thermostat.
The way we’re able to naturally cool off is by sweating. As sweat evaporates from your skin, you feel cooler. However, humidity brings high levels of moisture into the air and your sweat cannot evaporate as easily, so you feel much warmer when it’s not a dry heat.
Don’t Air Conditioners Control Humidity?
Your air conditioning system can help to control the humidity in the air. There is a component called the evaporator coil inside your cooling system. This is where refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat as it moves through your indoor and outdoor units. As this occurs, the coil cools off immensely, and moisture in the air condenses on the coil—meaning there’s less moisture in the air blowing back into your home.
So, yes, humidity levels do drop in most cases when you are using an air conditioner—but very minimally, and at a cost. Using your air conditioner is not cheap (as you’re well aware) and it has to run for even longer and use even more energy if it’s expected to dehumidify. Essentially, your cooling unit has to work overtime when the air is too humid—causing it to perform inefficiently and costing you more than it should run.
Why Dehumidifiers Are Worth the Investment
As highlighted above, your air conditioning system might not be the best solution to dehumidify your home. However, you can add a dehumidifier into your HVAC system to lower moisture levels in the air and stay comfortable, with additional benefits, too:
- Financial Savings: There’s going to be an initial investment involved with a whole-house dehumidifier, just as there is for any indoor air quality product. But when you run your dehumidifier, you’ll be able to adjust your AC by a few degrees or even shut it off when temperatures are mild enough, to save money on your energy bills.
- AC System Protection: It’s only natural that you want to avoid an air conditioner replacement for as long as possible. Integrating a dehumidifier into your HVAC system reduces wear and tear on the air conditioner, thus helping you keep it around for longer.
- Improved Indoor Air Quality: Lowering the moisture levels in your home can help to prevent or reduce the development of mold and mildew, which are both a big part of why we recommend whole-house dehumidifiers rather than small, portable systems.
To learn more about the importance of balanced humidity in your home,
contact Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating today.