Can You Decrease Humidity by Running the Air Conditioner?
Excess humidity can cause various problems, like mold growth, musty odors, structural issues, and an unpleasant muggy feeling. That’s why it’s necessary to manage humidity if you hope to increase indoor air quality and home comfort.
The recommended relative humidity level is around 30 to 50 percent. Summer is usually the most challenging time of year to remain inside this range. Luckily, using the air conditioner can help.
After all, air conditioning doesn’t just cool your home—it also lowers humidity. Here’s a look at how this works, along with ideas to manage indoor humidity levels.
How Air Conditioning Eliminates Humidity
Contrary to what you might think, your air conditioner doesn’t put in cool, dry air in your home—it removes heat and humidity. The process involves refrigerant, which stores heat and moisture effectively from the indoor air. Here’s the process:
- Indoor air moves through the ductwork and passes over the evaporator coil that contains cold refrigerant.
- The refrigerant soaks up heat, and the moisture in the air accumulates on the coil.
- The condensation falls into the condensate pan beneath the evaporator coil and drains out of the system.
- Cool, dehumidified air blows back into your home.
Tips to Reduce Humidity
Turning on the air conditioner might be adequate to push the relative humidity beneath 50 percent in dry climates. But if high humidity remains a problem in your home, try these tips.
Ventilate Properly
Run the exhaust fan in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room when you shower, cook and wash clothes. Spot ventilation eliminates humidity at the source to keep these rooms a cooler temperature. You can also open a window when it’s more temperate outside to allow in fresh air.
Wipe Up Standing Water
Damp shower tiles, kitchen counters and laundry room floors elevate indoor humidity and could encourage mold growth. Clean up standing water promptly to protect against these problems.
Run a Dehumidifier
If you grapple with high humidity in the summer, think about installing a whole-house dehumidifier that runs in tandem with your air conditioner to make your entire home more comfortable. A whole-house unit can even function separately from the AC to lower humidity on mild days without turning on the air conditioner. This strategy saves you money and prevents that “cool but clammy” feeling.
Adjust the AC Fan to Auto
The condensation that gathers on the evaporator coil needs time to build up and drip away. If you use the air conditioning fan continuously, the moisture will blow back into your home. That’s why it’s more efficient to flip the fan to “auto” so it is only running when the AC compressor turns on. You should be able to adjust this setting easily on your thermostat.
Change the Air Filter Consistently
A clogged filter traps dust and debris and will sometimes support mold spores if it becomes wet. This sends moisture and mold spores into your home each time the AC starts. Replace the air filter every month or as encouraged by the manufacturer to decrease indoor humidity and increase air quality.
Adjust the Fan Speed
Optimizing the fan speed can be tricky. High airflow helps the AC keep up with cooling demand on the hottest days, but this might cause shorter cycles that prevent effective dehumidification. Speak with an HVAC technician to help you choose the right fan speed for your comfort preferences.
Clean the Evaporator Coil
A dirty coil can’t cool and dehumidify effectively. If your cooling is having trouble sustaining the preferred temperature, contact our HVAC specialists to tune up your cooling system and clean the evaporator coil. Cooling and dehumidifying capabilities should improve as a result.
Verify the Refrigerant Charge
A depleted supply of refrigerant can hinder your air conditioner’s ability to do its job. Left unchecked, major issues including a frozen evaporator coil or compressor failure might happen. Only a qualified HVAC technician can fix refrigerant leaks and replenish the system as necessary, giving you another reason to request an AC tune-up.
Exchange Your Air Conditioner
If your home has constant comfort problems and your air conditioner is getting old, it may be time to replace it. Choose a new AC unit with innovative features, like 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 satisfy demand. Both features reinforce cooling and dehumidifying efficiency.
Manage Indoor Humidity with McKinley Heating Service Experts
If you decide it’s time to get a whole-house dehumidifier or swap out your air conditioner, McKinley Heating Service Experts can help. Our HVAC services are structured to optimize home comfort and energy efficiency for your long-term satisfaction. To ask questions or arrange a visit from one of our experienced heating and cooling technicians, please give us a call today.
