Can You Reduce Humidity by Running the Air Conditioner?

Excess humidity can create multiple problems, such as mold and mildew, musty smells, structural damage, and an unpleasant muggy feeling. That’s why it’s important to manage humidity if you plan to increase indoor air quality and home comfort. 

The perfect relative humidity level is around 30 to 50 percent. Summer is typically the hardest time of year to stay within this range. Fortunately, turning on the air conditioner can help. 

After all, air conditioning doesn’t only cool your home—it also lowers humidity. Here’s details of how this works, alongside with recommendations to manage indoor humidity levels. 

How Air Conditioning Eliminates Humidity 

Contrary to popular belief, your air conditioner doesn’t increase cool, dry air in your home—it eliminates heat and humidity. The process necessitates refrigerant, which absorbs heat and moisture effectively from the indoor air. Here’s the process: 

  • Indoor air moves through the ductwork and all over the evaporator coil that contains cold refrigerant. 
  • The refrigerant stores heat, and the moisture in the air collects on the coil. 
  • The condensation falls into the condensate pan beneath the evaporator coil and drains away from your home. 
  • Cooler, dehumidified air flows back into your home. 

How to Lower Humidity 

Running the air conditioner might be enough to lower the relative humidity beneath 50 percent in dry climates. But if high humidity remains a problem in your home, consider these tips. 

Ventilate Correctly 

Run the exhaust fan in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room when you shower, cook and wash clothes. This form of ventilation lowers humidity at the source to keep these rooms cool. You can also open a window when it’s comfortable outside to let in fresh air. 

Clean Up Standing Water 

Water on shower tiles, kitchen counters and laundry room floors raise indoor humidity and will sometimes stimulate mold and mildew. Clean up standing water promptly to prevent these problems. 

Use a Dehumidifier 

If you grapple with extreme humidity in the summer, look into installing a whole-house dehumidifier that operates in tandem with your air conditioner to make your entire home more comfortable. A whole-house system can even operate independently of the AC to eliminate humidity on more temperate days without running the air conditioner. This technique saves you money and prevents that “cool but clammy” feeling. 

Set the AC Fan to Auto 

The condensation that collects on the evaporator coil needs time to build up and flow away. If you run the air conditioning fan constantly, the moisture won’t be able to leave your home. That’s why it’s more efficient to set the fan to “auto” so it only runs when the AC compressor turns on. You should be able to find this setting easily on your thermostat. 

Swap Out the Air Filter on a Regular Basis 

An obstructed air filter traps dust and debris and may harbor mold spores if it becomes wet. This sends moisture and mold spores into your home any time the AC is running. Exchange the air filter every month or as encouraged by the manufacturer to lower indoor humidity and increase air quality. 

Adjust the Fan Speed 

Optimizing the fan speed can be tricky. High airflow helps the AC meet your cooling demand on particularly hot days, but this can cause shorter cycles that prevent effective dehumidification. Coordinate with an HVAC technician to help you determine the right fan speed for your comfort needs. 

Clean the Evaporator Coil 

A filthy coil can’t cool and dehumidify efficiently. If your cooling is having trouble reaching the preferred temperature, contact our HVAC specialists to inspect your cooling system and clean the evaporator coil. Cooling and dehumidifying capabilities should improve as a result. 

Check the Refrigerant Charge 

A depleted supply of refrigerant can impair your air conditioner’s ability to carry out its job. Left unchecked, major issues like a frozen evaporator coil or compressor failure might happen. Only a skilled HVAC technician can fix refrigerant leaks and refresh the system as required, offering you another reason to request an AC tune-up. 

Replace Your Air Conditioner 

If your home has continuous comfort trouble and your air conditioner is wearing down, it may be time to look for a new one. Pick a new AC system with innovative features, including a thermal expansion valve (TXV) and variable blower motor. A TXV delivers the perfect amount of refrigerant consistent with the air temperature, and a variable blower motor adapts the fan speed to meet demand. Both features reinforce cooling and dehumidifying performance. 

Balance Indoor Humidity with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 

If you decide it’s time to put in a whole-house dehumidifier or upgrade your AC system, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help. Our HVAC services are tailored to improve home comfort and energy efficiency for your long-term satisfaction. To share questions or arrange a visit from one of our qualified heating and cooling technicians, please call us today. 

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