Does Humidity Affect My Air Conditioner?
Your air conditioning might be working harder than you realize. Moisture, in the form of humidity, is found across the globe and changes with the local weather. You may also find humidity building up in your Northern Texas home. If you can’t control the overall humidity level in your home, though, you could experience issues. This moisture not only makes hot days feel hotter, but it can cause problems with your AC.
Hotter Than Usual During the Summer
Humidity naturally makes air warmer within your home. This results in an air quality that’s denser as the higher humidity levels rise. Too much humidity in the air can alter your breathing. The sensitive nerves within the bronchi constrict under the pressure of high humidity and leads to breathing difficulties. Combining the constraining effects of interior humidity with Northern Texas weather makes your AC work harder. Look for signs of your AC lagging or working harder due to high humidity levels.
Allergens and Other Pollutants
Humidity and clouds both create some type of moisture, but one has a greater density than the other. You can easily see the clouds in the sky because water droplets are suspended in the air. Though they’re lightweight, they’re visible in large clumps. However, you cannot see the humidity in your home, but its moisture content is enough to encapsulate dust and allergen particles. This creates a larger accumulation of pollutants within your home. The many airborne particles that are in your home can intensify your allergy symptoms.
Here are some of the symptoms we can keep at bay with proper humidity levels:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Wheezing
Foggy Windows
When you are using your AC, the combination of warm and humid weather meets, causing condensation to build on your home’s windows, and the windows in your home start to fog up. This is a clear sign of humidity. Eliminating this water buildup is necessary because the moisture in the air speeds up the accumulation of allergens and other pollutants. A buildup of water on your windows becomes a nuisance as you must continually disinfect and clean them.
Failure to Remove Moisture
Your building construction and the type of AC you own might be failing to remove moisture from the air. Even though the climate may be contributing to high humidity, your AC may not be able to lower the humidity within your home if it’s an older unit. Newer units have a higher wattage capacity and can effectively remove high levels of humidity from your space. With a closer look, one of our technicians might discover your home’s ventilation has a problem that’s causing your humidity to be higher. You can ask us about the common ways that humidity enters your home, some of which include:
- Porous surfaces
- Cracks and leaks
- Number of residents in the home
- Poor ventilation
Stale, Aging Odors
When home enclosures don’t receive circulating air, they slowly begin to smell as dust particles collect. When these conditions exist and humidity levels are also high, you can expect smells of mildew and what we often refer to as the scent of old age. Consider these odors as adequate reasons to contact a professional about why your humidity is high. At Ken Parker Service, Inc., we use tools like hydrometers to measure the level of humidity in your home. Our technicians then provide you with solutions to rectify the problem.
Think of a Professional to Do the Job Right
Humidity might be a single problem you face, but your best way to tackle it is with an array of professional services. Ken Parker Service, Inc. provides AC installation, maintenance, and repairs. In order to tackle the humidity problem in your home, you’ll need to have your AC system inspected to ensure it’s functioning as it should be. If you think you have a humidity problem, call our technicians to check things out. We’ll be about to determine what’s wrong with your system and suggest the best fix. Be prepared to talk about the following:
- Is your current AC too large for your space?
- Do you currently think that humidity is the problem?
- How old is your current unit, and when was it last repaired?
Our technicians can help guide your decisions to get your AC working as it should. We also offer heating installation, maintenance, and repair services. Contact Ken Parker Service, Inc. today for more information.
