As uncomfortable as it may sometimes be, living with humidity is a way of life in Florida. But moisture can cause more than discomfort for area residents. High humidity levels can cause serious problems in your residence – including mold and mildew, musty odors, and an uncomfortable muggy feeling in the air. Your home’s indoor air quality and your comfort rely on controlling the humidity – especially because these conditions can also cause bacterial and viral growth and health issues such as respiratory infections and allergies.
A Florida home’s ideal relative humidity level is between 40 and 50 percent. The heat and humidity can make staying in the range challenging, but your air conditioning unit is designed to cool your home and dehumidify the air. If the A/C unit is not doing the job well enough, you may need to take further action.
If your AC is running, but your home still feels humid and damp, this information will help.
Your Air Conditioner’s Role: The A/C unit naturally lowers humidity in a residence as cool air retains less moisture than warmer air. Florida’s climate, which often involves summer rainstorms, can work against this process. Even if your home is properly cooled, the additional moisture in the outside air can cause the house to feel muggy. For your HVAC system to extract moisture in the air, it must be running, so one answer is to keep the a/c unit running continuously. HVAC systems consume less energy when operating continuously than if forced to cycle on and off frequently – and the strategy doesn’t affect energy bills as much as people believe it will.
Is the System Too Small for Your House?
The effectiveness of the air conditioner relies largely on the correct sizing for the home. A unit that is too small won’t be able to handle the amount of air in the residence properly. While a small a/c unit will dehumidify the home to some extent, it will not be able to maintain the level of comfort that Florida residents want. Upgrading your older, small unit to a modern and appropriately sized system will more effectively control the humidity in your home and cool your home efficiently.
The Situation May Require A/C Repair
As warm, damp air moves over the HVAC system’s coils, some moisture is left behind and drips off the coils into the condensate pan. The excess water from the air then leaves the system via the condensate drain. If any component of the A/C unit is not working correctly, it may result in higher than usual levels of humidity. The home’s interior may feel humid because the drain is clogged, or there may not be adequate amounts of refrigerant in the coils. A professional air conditioning service technician can perform a diagnosis and recommend the proper solution to any problems with the system.
Will a Whole-Home Dehumidifier Help?
Sometimes the humidity in Southwest Florida proves to be a formidable opponent to your AC system. If you can’t seem to achieve the level of comfort you desire, a whole-home dehumidifier may be the best answer. A humidity control unit works with the existing AC system and dehumidifies the air throughout the home. If you’re struggling with damp, humid air in your South Florida home, call the experts at Ocean Air. Our technicians will provide you with an honest assessment and recommendation for the best A/C unit and dehumidifying products.