.png)
Great question, and there’s probably a very good reason why you’re conducting online research on the subject. That reason? Perhaps it’s because your indoor comfort levels don’t feel right, or you don’t feel right, and whatever’s causing your discomfort, you want it fixed!
So, is the problem – whatever it might be – related to high indoor humidity? The answer is probably “yes” if you observe any of the following:
Your home’s humidity is over 55 percent. Just like you have thermostats to read and display indoor and outdoor temperatures, you can purchase a hygrometer to provide indoor humidity levels. When it hits 55% or higher, you’re living in the “discomfort zone”.
It feels warmer than it actually is. Just like outdoors, high indoor humidity makes the air feel thicker and stickier than normal. To compensate, you’re likely to lower the thermostat, but that won’t get rid of the excess humidity. Instead, your AC system will incur added wear and tear, you’ll pay more to cool your home, and you won’t feel a whole lot better.
Allergy symptoms are exaggerated. Homes with high humidity are breeding grounds for dust mites and mold, two of the most common indoor allergens. If you notice a worsening of your allergy symptoms – or the onset of symptoms where before there weren’t any – and you haven’t made any changes to your AC system, high humidity could be the cause.
Floors and other wooden objects or surface are damage. Ever notice how doors that closed perfectly during the winter suddenly need an extra little shove to open and close during the summer? That’s high humidity “Exhibit A”. And so is floors and furniture that warp, guitars that go out of tune, windows that are harder to open and close, and so on.
What’s a home owner to do when faced with high humidity and its myriad of problems? First, you could replace your AC system. The older the system, the less able it is to remove excess humidity from your home. If, on the other hand, you don’t want to make that kind of investment now, then your next best option is to install a whole-house dehumidifier, one that lets you choose the relative humidity settings where you feel the most comfortable. For more information about a replacement AC system or a whole-house dehumidifier, contact GBT Heating & Cooling today.