We all know how unpleasant hot and humid weather can be, but what should you do when turning on the AC only makes things worse? If you feel like your AC is making your home feel even more humid, or even causing the problem to start with, you’re probably not wrong.
The Problems With High Humidity
There is a very distinctive unpleasant feeling that comes with high humidity levels, but that’s not the only issue it can cause. They also provide perfect conditions for microorganisms such as mold spores and dust mites, which can multiply in number and potentially cause or exacerbate health issues for you or your family. Condensation resulting from the high humidity can also encourage mold growth and cause other damage to your home.
Why Your AC Might Be Causing High Humidity
There are a lot of reasons your AC may contribute to high humidity levels in your home, with some of them being surprisingly common, especially if you’re not having your system regularly serviced. The following are just some of the most common.
Dirt and Grime in Your System
A buildup of dust and dirt inside your AC system can cause a whole host of problems, including higher humidity as it interferes with its refrigerant cycle and otherwise disrupts its ability to function correctly.
An Improperly Sized System
It’s important that your AC system is the correct size for your home. If not, regardless of whether it’s too big or too small, it won’t be able to work as effectively and could lead to a rise in humidity and other unexpected issues.
Aging and Wear and Tear
As with all technology, your AC will accumulate wear and tear over the course of its life and this will eventually manifest itself as poorer performance and other issues. Although this is an inevitability, it will likely present itself sooner if you’ve not been getting the system serviced regularly.
Damaged Components from Moisture
This goes hand in hand with wear and tear, but if individual components in your AC system are damaged and in need of repair or replacement, then this will impact the whole system. Once again, this will manifest itself as poorer performance and issues such as an increase in humidity.
How To Prevent Issues With Your AC
Although it’s not possible to completely prevent issues from arising over the lifetime of your system, there are a few small steps you can take which will substantially reduce them.
Use Appropriate Settings
Regardless of whether you’re experiencing issues or not, you’ll get the best results and the longest life from your AC if you choose appropriate settings that provide you with the cooling you need while not overtaxing it.
Have Your System Regularly Serviced
Having your AC system regularly serviced by a professional can prolong its life and the life of the various components in it, preventing issues or identifying and fixing them before they turn into noticeable problems. It also prevents dust and dirt from building up inside the AC where you’re not able to clean it yourself.
Ensure That Your AC System is Appropriate
When choosing a system, making sure that it’s the right size for your home and otherwise fits your needs is crucial if it’s going to work well for you in the long term. This isn’t always easy to do alone, but by taking advice from an air conditioning expert you can be confident in your choice.
What To Do When Issues Arise
Even if you do everything right, you’re bound to run into problems sooner or later, so if you find your AC is causing high humidity, then the next step is to contact professionals like Hoot. We’ll take a look at your system to identify the root cause and remedy the problem. We’ll also be happy to set up a regular maintenance schedule with you so that you can stay problem free for years to come.
