Humidity inside the house can be pretty annoying. Constant moisture can cause various health issues, ruin the interior’s appearance and may even weaken the home’s structure. Therefore, it is imperative to take all possible measures to control the humidity in the house. According to experts, indoor humidity level should stay within a range of 30 – 50%. When the level is above that there are some things you can try before calling for air conditioning repair.
Maintaining appropriate humidity levels can deliver several benefits: personal comfort, indoor appearance, prevent mildew, reduce odor in clothing, better air quality, reduce dust mites, etc. Many times people feel uncomfortable not because of the temperature in the house, but the humidity level. High humidity gives a person that sweaty, sticky feeling. Lower the humidity and the thermostat can be higher and still be comfortable.
Some homeowners manage to control humidity levels in their home with the assistance of air conditioners. However, to expect the best out of air conditioning systems there are a few additional tips to follow.
Letting the fan run. If you keep the fan on, the AC unit will add moisture to the air as the air passes a wet coil. Make sure the fan turns off when the AC unit isn’t running.
Vent the clothes dryer to outside. When a clothes dryer is running, the evaporating water is released into the air. By venting the dryer to the outdoors, most of that moist goes outside instead of remaining in the home.
Bathroom and kitchen vents. Both of these rooms in the house are locations of moisture producing activities. Showers and cooking both produce steam. By having vents, the air is circulated and the moisture is removed or at least reduced in these rooms.
Moisture-absorbing plants. There are plants that absorb water directly from the air. Placing these plants in the home helps keep humidity levels in check. These plants include Boston fern, English ivy, reed palm and peace lily.
Repair broken air ducts. A broken or separated air duct will leak moisture back into the home instead of circulating it outdoors.
Install a whole house de-humidifier. Homes located in tropical or highly humid climates may need to install a de-humidifier to keep from overtaxing the AC system.
Reducing the humidity in the home not only makes for a more comfortable summer, but also may save some money on the energy bill.
If none of these tips help the humidity level in your home, you may need to call for air conditioning repair. In the Philadelphia area contact Good Deals Heating and Cooling at 215-947-1166.
