High humidity can make your home muggy, too
The following sponsored content is provided by Davis Services, Inc.
We have a saying in the South, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” If you live in Upstate South Carolina or have visited here on a hot summer day, you’ve experienced the mugginess and miserable feeling of walking around in perspiration-soaked clothes.
Most people know that high humidity levels make a hot day feel even hotter. So, it should not be surprising that high humidity has a major effect on the performance of your home’s air-conditioning system, too.
An air conditioner cools your home by removing heat and moisture from the air. When humidity levels are off the chart—as they often are during Upstate summers, your AC system has to work a lot harder. Your home can feel warmer than it actually is because the inside air is holding extra moisture. And you may not be able to achieve the comfort level you want regardless of the temperature setting.
An older air-conditioning system or one that is undersized or oversized for the total volume of your home’s living space may be the cause of high humidity inside your home.
Incorrectly-sized HVAC systems are something we see a good bit of in our area. It’s important to remember that the square footage of your house is just one consideration when choosing the right-sized unit. Other considerations are:
• Age of your home
• Number of exterior walls exposed to the sun
• Number, condition and orientation of windows
• Amount of insulation in your home
• Existing ventilation and ductwork
• Amount of tree shade around your home
An undersized air-conditioning unit will never properly cool your living space. And an oversized system does a poor job of controlling both temperature and humidity. A powerful, oversized unit will turn on and off frequently, so the system never runs long enough to remove humidity from the air.
Here are some typical indicators of high indoor humidity:
• Air that is moist and clammy feeling
• Foggy windows. Humidity is water vapor in the air so when it’s trapped inside your home, it can fog up the windows.
• Musty smell. High humidity levels cause dampness that can lead to musty odors.
The most immediate solution for dealing with indoor humidity in your home is installing a dehumidifier on your HVAC system. A dehumidifier pulls moisture from the air before it is forced through the ducts in your home. Dehumidifiers can be paired with air conditioning systems, allowing you to adjust the temperature and humidity level of your home at the same time.
The best way to protect your HVAC system investment is through regular maintenance.
A well-maintained system will improve the overall air quality of your home, minimize emergency repairs and extend the life of your HVAC unit.
About the Author
Nick Davis is co-owner of Spartanburg-based Davis Services, Inc. He grew up in the company, learning the business through jobs in installation, maintenance, home performance and residential sales of conventional and geothermal systems. Nick serves as the company’s marketing director and coordinator of Davis Services’ apprenticeship program.
