Downtown Air and Heat Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Dehumidifiers’

According to the Köppen climate classification, the most widely recognized classification system for classifying the climates of particular areas, Orlando is not located in the area deemed a “tropical climate.” While Tampa has many of the characteristics of a tropical climate, it is actually located in what is known as a humid subtropical climate. In a humid subtropical climate, the winds from the tropics brings in warm, moist air which means humidity can be a real concern in our area, leading many to choose a whole-house dehumidifier.

High humidity occurs when there is a lot of water vapor in the air. This can cause a multitude of problems for Florida homeowners, including damage to the home, high energy bills, and poor indoor air quality. Rather than risk these negative effects, many homeowners choose to install whole-house dehumidifiers instead of point-of-use dehumidifiers which only alleviate the problem in a single room or area. Here are some of the risks you take if you don’t protect your entire home.

One of the most noticeable problems associated with high humidity is the level of heat you feel on your body. With too much moisture in the air, sweat cannot evaporate from your body as it should, which means a heat envelope forms around your body and makes you feel as though it is far warmer than the actual outdoor and indoor temperature. You crank up the AC to compensate, which could lead to an overworked unit that breaks down frequently or cots a lot of money to run.

The effects of high humidity on the conditions in your home can be even more of an issue. Water can ruin your furniture and do some damage for the structural integrity of your home. And in area with a lot of moisture, bacteria, mold, and viruses can thrive and move into the air, aggravating allergies, asthma, and other respiratory symptoms.

Choosing to install a whole-home dehumidifier in Orlando means you are protecting every area of your house, not just a single room. This type of system works with your HVAC unit to collect moisture as it sucks in air. Moisture is attracted to cooling coils as condensation occurs, leading to improved conditions and a feeling of overall comfort and relaxation.

Call Downtown Air & Heat to learn how you can get a dehumidifier in Orlando and get peace of mind about the state of your home.

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Tags: Dehumidifiers, Orlando
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Why a Dehumidifier Is Necessary in a Tropical Climate

High humidity is a part of daily life in Florida, and it can affect us around the year. It causes problems with comfort, negatively affects health, and leads to water damage. If your home is experiencing high indoor humidity (greater than 60% relative humidity), then one of the best solutions is to have a whole-house dehumidifier professionally installed. Dehumidifiers use a process similar to air conditioners to absorb moisture from the air. If properly sized and installed, a whole-house dehumidifier can create a proper balance of indoor humidity levels so a house is neither too damp nor too dry.

Downtown Air & Heat is experienced with creating comfort for homes in Florida, and that includes balancing humidity levels. Call us today for dehumidifier services in Orlando. With our help, you can avoid some of these common problems that result from high humidity indoors:

Discomfort and Elevated Cooling Costs

Muggy air makes hot temperatures feel much worse. The reason for this is that the moisture in the air makes it more difficult for the human body to release heat through perspiration, and this traps additional heat inside the body. Not only does this mean hot weather feels more uncomfortable, it will mean needing to keep the air conditioning running almost constantly. A dehumidifier can lower a home’s need for air conditioning by 30%, which means significant energy savings throughout the year.

Health Issues

High humidity is connected to a number of health problems, most notably those that stem from the growth of toxic molds inside a house. Other health troubles linked to high humidity include insomnia, asthma attacks, allergy problems, irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, and respiratory difficulties. For people who already have asthma, allergies, or respiratory conditions, high humidity can be extremely dangerous.

Water Damage

As moisture from high humidity continues to accumulate, it will lead to damage to the building material of a home. The development of mold and mildew will eat through drywall and warp floorboards. Expenses for repairing water damage are often high, but you can avoid the trouble with an effective dehumidifier in your home.

It is very important that you have professionals take care of installing a whole-house dehumidifier. If the wrong size system is put in, or put in improperly, you might end up with a dehumidifier that barely affects indoor conditions—while still draining power—or ends up creating humidity levels that are too low. (Low humidity creates as many problems as high humidity.) From excellent installation, repair, and maintenance services for a dehumidifier in Orlando, FL, call up the indoor air quality specialists at Downtown Air & Heat today.

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Tags: Dehumidifiers, Orlando
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Problems Caused by Excessive Humidity