There is a great deal of truth to the old adage that “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity.” In fact, high humidity in your Southeast Michigan home will not only decrease home comfort, but can actually damage structures or even indicate an air conditioning problem. So, when your home feels overly humid, it is important to address the underlying issues.
Overwhelming humidity
Humidity generally results from air passing over the evaporator coils in your air conditioner, where moisture condenses and is disposed of through a drain line. High humidity levels will increase the work load, making it seem like your A/C is not working properly because it is working so hard to remove moisture. Controlling humidity will not only improve home comfort and prevent damage to your home, but will also lighten the load and improve energy efficiency for your cooling system. Preventing high humidity also prevents damage from mildew growth and improves indoor air quality by decreasing mold, dust mites, and other allergens.
What to do about high humidity
Since your A/C can only keep up with the humidity it was designed to control, it’s essential to maintain ideal humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. Here are some tips for doing so:
- Avoid lowering the thermostat to reduce humidity, as it may be a size of improper sizing.
- Use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to minimize extra indoor humidity from cooking and bathing.
- Use shades or blinds on windows with direct sunlight to reduce radiant heat.
- Look for and seal any air or ductwork leaks to maintain your home envelope.
- Maintain cooling system drip pans and drain lines through regular cleaning.
- Consider a dehumidifier for your home or an air conditioning unit with a variable-speed air handler.
For more expert advice and high quality customer service in addressing high humidity in your home, contact Aladdin Heating and Cooling. With a long history of honesty and hard work, we look forward to serving your Novi, Southfield, or other Southeast Michigan area home today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/Cs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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