Throughout the long summer season, many Delaware and Maryland homeowners struggle to keep their homes comfortable. Many times, it’s not just about the performance of your air conditioning system but also the amount of humidity in the air. You could have your air conditioning system running all day, and your home may still feel sticky, damp, or even warmer than it should. Understanding how humidity affects your indoor comfort can help you make better-informed decisions about how to make your home more comfortable for your family.
Why Summer Humidity Affects Indoor Comfort
Both Delaware and Maryland experience high humidity during the summer months. Humidity refers to the amount of moisture present in the air. As the moisture level inside your home rises, it becomes much harder for your body to naturally cool itself down through the perspiration process. Even though your thermostat may say that it’s at a reasonable 70 degrees Fahrenheit, excess indoor humidity can leave your home feeling much warmer.
Apart from just affecting how you feel, indoor humidity can also affect your indoor air quality. High humidity levels create the perfect environment for dust mites, mildew, mold, and bacteria to thrive. You may notice musty odors, more frequent allergy symptoms, and respiratory irritation. Being able to control that indoor humidity makes a world of difference in both your air quality level and your comfort.
Signs Your Home Has Too Much Humidity
As a homeowner, there are many key warning signs that can let you know your home has excessive indoor humidity. One of the most obvious is that it feels sticky or clammy even when your air conditioning system is constantly running. It’s pretty common to notice condensation forming on your glass doors, windows, and even pipes. You may notice a musty odor that doesn’t go away and damp-feeling rooms. You may see visible mold growth in your bathroom, basement, or even around your vents.
Your wood furniture, trim, and flooring can start to warp due to prolonged moisture exposure. High indoor humidity can even affect your sleep quality, making it harder to fall asleep at night. If you suspect that your home has high indoor humidity, it’s necessary to evaluate your HVAC system to determine the best course of action to put it back in check.
How AC Performance and Humidity Are Connected
While your air conditioning system cools your home, it also removes moisture. As warm air passes over the evaporator coil inside your indoor air handler unit, moisture gets extracted from the air and travels down into the drain for your condensate line. If your air conditioner is oversized for your home, it can cool the air too quickly without running long enough. This means it may not remove enough humidity to eliminate that muggy feeling in your home.
Issues, like low refrigerant, poor airflow, and clogged filters, can all reduce your HVAC system’s ability to operate efficiently. This can make it harder to control indoor humidity during periods of extreme summer heat. Ensuring that you get routine AC maintenance and a properly sized system will set you up for success when it comes to your comfort during the summer.
One thing to realize when it comes to humidity and your AC system is that many times homeowners end up turning down their thermostat. This is done to compensate for the uncomfortable feeling they have. Unfortunately, this can place excess strain on your air conditioning system, making it more likely you’ll need AC service repair due to a system malfunction.
Ways to Improve Summer Comfort
There’s no doubt that indoor air quality matters, and controlling humidity is the key to optimizing your comfort. As a homeowner, you should be scheduling annual maintenance service for your HVAC system to ensure that it’s operating at its peak. You also want to check your air filter every month and replace it whenever necessary. This ensures optimal airflow throughout your system.
You should consider adding a whole-home dehumidification system. This system installs directly alongside your HVAC equipment and removes additional moisture from the air. This is great for times of high humidity during the summer when your traditional air conditioning system simply can’t keep up.
Give Your AC a Break With Dehumidifiers From Chesapeake Home Services, LLC
Chesapeake Home Services, LLC offers expert whole-home dehumidifier service in both Delaware and Maryland. We also provide indoor air quality services, air conditioning services, and heating services for all of our valued clients.
Contact our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced technicians.
