We’re still in the middle of winter here in Orlando, FL, which means relatively cool temperatures. Summer will be here before you know it, however, and in addition to the soaring temperatures comes a truly stifling level of humidity. Your air conditioner can handle the heat just fine, but for the moisture levels, you should consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier in your system. Here’s a quick breakdown of how it works and the kinds of benefits it can provide.
The Problems of High Humidity
We usually measure humidity in terms of relative humidity: ranked as a percentage ranging from 100% (basically rain) to 0% air without any moisture at all, which almost never happens on this plant). Basically speaking, we need the relative humidity levels to sit somewhere between 30% and 50% for us to feel comfortable. When it rises above that – as it does nearly every day in the summer in Orlando – the sweat won’t evaporate off of our skin. Our bodies thus can’t cool off and the air feels warmer than it is. In addition, high humidity can foster the growth of mold and bacteria in our homes, which is never a good thing.
How Dehumidifiers Work
When you lower the temperature of the air, the ambient moisture condenses into liquid form, drying the air out. (That’s the reason you often see dew on the ground in the cool early hours of the morning). Technically, your air conditioner acts as a dehumidifier, but it’s not built for that activity. A whole-house dehumidifier is specifically designed for it. Not only will it reduce relative humidity levels to something much more comfortable, but it will ease the strain on your air conditioner in the bargain: lowing monthly bills at a time of year when they can soar sky high.
Call the pros at Downtown Air and Heat to install a whole-house dehumidifier today!
