When you switch on your system at the beginning of the summer season knowing how humidity affects the air is a great way to both keep your interiors comfortable and keep your air conditioning unit running smoothly for years to come.
Air conditioner humidity level.
The best tools to keeping relative humidity at ideal levels in your home year round are whole home humidifiers and dehumidifiers these systems automatically work with your home s heating and cooling systems to add or remove moisture from the air.
Air conditioning systems help to keep homes comfortable even during the hottest days in the year.
Ideally you should have a humidity level inside your home that ranges from 40 to 50 percent.
In an ideal scenario your ac brings down the humidity level by circulating the hot and humid air of your home over the cold and refrigerant filled evaporator coil.
When the humidity is too high your home will feel warmer than it.
Advertisement replace an old air conditioner.
In theory an air conditioning system should be able to remove moisture from the air.
In some cases mold can grow.
In the summer your home s humidity likely spikes.
Air conditioning systems and humidity.
To remove the uncomfortable humidity from the air while your air conditioner is in the cooling mode you will need to lower the thermostat a few degrees colder than you normally would.
Due to this interaction between air and cold coils water vapor present in the air condenses and forms water droplets.
Air conditioner humidity problems.
An air conditioner that s only capable of running at one speed basically on or off can have the same problems as one that s too large when it comes to hvac humidity control.
As mentioned above the system will work overtime trying to compensate and may wear down sooner because of this.
However anywhere from 30 to 60 percent would be acceptable.
Maintaining ideal relative humidity levels in the home.
When humidity levels spike however most systems can t cope.
Over time problems can begin in your air conditioning system if humidity levels are not controlled.
Humidity affects air conditioning negatively because it cancels out the cooling effect.
Issues with dry air.
An air conditioning system that is working properly will cool the air and remove the humidity but only if the controls are set correctly.