DEHUMIDIFICATION: THE KEY TO SUMMER HOME COMFORT August 20, 2018

In areas of high humidity, such as Southwest Florida, controlling the amount of moisture in the air is as critical to your comfort as controlling the temperature. In many areas, air conditioning alone is enough to maintain comfortable humidity levels. But in more humid areas, or in homes with poor ventilation, additional dehumidification may be necessary.

How Humidity Affects Comfort

In the summer, a hot day with low humidity feels much cooler than a similar day with high humidity. This is because the humid air prevents sweat from evaporating, interfering with your body’s natural cooling system and leaving your skin feeling sticky and uncomfortable. High humidity can also make it harder to breathe for those with allergies, asthma or other respiratory illnesses, and it can encourage the growth and reproduction of bacteria, mold, mildew, dust mites and other irritants. By maintaining healthy humidity levels of 50 percent or lower, you can make your home much more comfortable and avoid moisture-related problems.

How to Improve Dehumidification

Any home with a properly-sized, well-maintained air conditioning system and decent ventilation should be able to control humidity sufficiently in all but the most humid areas. If a home lacks proper ventilation, however, moisture from cooking, bathing, washing dishes, and fuel-burning appliances can accumulate, increasing humidity levels. Likewise, an air conditioner that’s oversized and doesn’t run long enough to properly dehumidify will leave moisture in the air; and if vents are blocked, the air filter is dirty or there are other maintenance problems, it may make the problem worse.

To improve dehumidification, make sure your home is properly ventilated, that your air conditioner is sized correctly, and that it is professionally maintained annually. If you live in an excessively humid area or still have moisture problems, then you may want to consider installing a whole-home dehumidification system to supplement your air conditioner.

To learn more about dehumidification systems and how they can improve your comfort, talk to our experts at Conditioned Air. Our team can help solve your humidity problems throughout the Southwest Florida area, including Naples, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Ft. Myers.