Can You Reduce Humidity by Running the Air Conditioner?
Excess humidity can create multiple problems, like mold and mildew, musty rooms, structural problems, and an uncomfortable muggy feeling. That’s why it’s necessary to control humidity if you hope to enhance indoor air quality and home comfort.
The recommended relative humidity level is around 30 to 50 percent. Summer is typically the toughest time of year to stay within this range. Fortunately, running the air conditioner can help.
After all, air conditioning doesn’t only cool your home—it also lowers humidity. Here’s a look at how this works, alongside with suggestions to balance indoor humidity levels.
How Air Conditioning Removes Humidity
Contrary to popular belief, your air conditioner doesn’t add cool, dry air in your home—it takes out heat and humidity. The process necessitates refrigerant, which soaks up heat and moisture effectively from the indoor air. Here’s how it works:
- Indoor air moves through the ductwork and passes over the evaporator coil that contains cold refrigerant.
- The refrigerant collects heat, and the moisture in the air condenses on the coil.
- The condensation drips into the condensate pan beneath the evaporator coil and drains away from your home.
- Cool, dehumidified air blows back into your home.
Ways to Lower Humidity
Using the air conditioner might be adequate to lower the relative humidity beneath 50 percent in dry climates. But if high humidity continues to be a problem in your home, try these tips.
Ventilate Properly
Use the exhaust fan in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room when you shower, cook and wash clothes. This form of ventilation eliminates humidity at the source to keep these rooms a cooler temperature. You can also open a window when it’s mild outside to draw in fresh air.
Clean Up Standing Water
Wet shower tiles, kitchen counters and laundry room floors raise indoor humidity and could promote mold and mildew. Dry any standing water promptly to avoid these problems.
Use a Dehumidifier
If you dislike increased humidity in the summer, consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier that runs in tandem with your air conditioner to make each room more comfortable. A whole-house model can even run independently of the AC to remove humidity on more temperate days without turning on the air conditioner. This approach saves you money and doesn’t leave you with that “cool but clammy” feeling.
Adjust the AC Fan to Auto
The condensation that forms on the evaporator coil needs time to build up and flow away. If you use the air conditioning fan continuously, the moisture won’t be able to leave your home. That’s why it’s more efficient to adjust the fan to “auto” so it is only running when the AC compressor turns on. You should be able to find this setting easily on your thermostat.
Swap Out the Air Filter Consistently
An old filter traps dust and debris and could support mold spores if it gets wet. This sends moisture and mold spores into your home every time the AC starts. Replace the air filter once a month or as suggested by the manufacturer to decrease indoor humidity and increase air quality.
Adjust the Fan Speed
Optimizing the fan speed can be tricky. Strong airflow helps the AC keep up with cooling demand on the hottest days, but this can cause shorter cycles that minimize the chance of effective dehumidification. Speak with an HVAC technician to help you select the best fan speed for your comfort needs.
Clean the Evaporator Coil
A filthy coil can’t cool and dehumidify effectively. If your AC is having trouble maintaining the desired temperature, call our HVAC specialists to tune up your cooling system and clean the evaporator coil. Cooling and dehumidifying efficiency should improve as a result.
Check the Refrigerant Charge
Low refrigerant can hinder your air conditioner’s ability to perform its job. Left alone, serious issues like a frozen evaporator coil or compressor failure may happen. Only a skilled HVAC technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system as needed, offering you another reason to arrange an AC tune-up.
Replace Your Air Conditioner
If your home has constant comfort issues and your air conditioner is getting old, it may be time for a replacement. Install a new AC unit with modern features, such as a thermal expansion valve (TXV) and variable blower motor. A TXV delivers the perfect amount of refrigerant determined by the air temperature, and a variable blower motor adapts the fan speed to meet demand. Both features enhance cooling and dehumidifying performance.
Balance Indoor Humidity with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing
If you think it’s time to install a whole-house dehumidifier or replace your AC system, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Our HVAC services are designed to maximize home comfort and energy efficiency for your long-term satisfaction. To raise questions or schedule a visit from one of our certified heating and cooling technicians, please contact us today.