If your air conditioner isn’t working, dial (781) 236-3241 to reach Green Energy Mechanical Inc. In addition to providing reliable AC maintenance in Canton, MA, we can make prompt repairs to keep your home cool all summer long.
How many times have you heard the expression, “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity?” Excess moisture in the air can make the air feel hot and sticky, leading many people to ask, “Does running the air conditioner lower humidity?”
The short answer is that, yes, running an air conditioner does reduce the indoor humidity level. In fact, air conditioners actually work by removing heat and excess humidity from the air and blowing the cooler and drier air back into your home. The condensation that drains from the air conditioner outside is the water the AC unit pulls out of the air to make the indoor environment more comfortable.
To keep your AC system running efficiently even when high humidity levels have the air feeling a lot like a bowl of hot soup, keep these tips in mind. They will help the AC remove humidity effectively without putting excess strain on the equipment.
Manage Indoor Humidity Level
Although we can answer, “Does running an air conditioner lower humidity?” with a “yes,” that doesn’t mean it can always maintain the ideal indoor humidity level of 30% to 50% without some assistance. To stay comfortable on especially muggy days, make sure your home has plenty of ventilation to allow moisture from showers, cooking, and laundry to escape naturally. Run the exhaust fans to prevent moisture accumulation and keep your home comfortable.
Taking care of standing water also helps reduce indoor humidity. Plumbing leaks and puddles on the floor after bathing, around the sinks, on shower tiles, or anywhere else can increase humidity and damage surfaces, so wipe them up quickly.
Use the Auto Setting
When you run the air conditioner fan the “on” setting constantly, the condensation that accumulates on the evaporator coil won’t have time to drip away. The fan can then blow the moisture back inside, driving up the indoor humidity level. Setting the air conditioner to auto ensures the fan only blows when the compressor comes on, so the water has time to drain.
Keep Up With Filter Changes
Changing the filter in the AC unit is one of the most important maintenance tasks to keep your AC unit in top condition and help it remove humidity from the air. The air filter removes contaminants from the air, and when it gets dirty and clogged, the air conditioner has to work harder to produce cool air. Changing the filter every 30 to 60 days, or whenever it gets dirty, ensures that your system runs efficiently and prevents any accumulated moisture from blowing back into your home.
Schedule Annual Maintenance
Performing scheduled maintenance ensures that the air conditioner is in top working condition and will remove humidity from the air and keep your home cool. Technicians clean the evaporator coils to eliminate dirt and debris that prevent them from removing moisture and cooling effectively. Annual service also includes checking the refrigerant lines for leaks and adding additional refrigerant if necessary.
Invest in a Dehumidifier
Air conditioning removes moisture from the air to cool things down, but if it’s still too humid inside, a dehumidifier can help make things more comfortable. Humidifiers can run separately from the air conditioner to eliminate moisture and, on cooler days, reduce humidity without creating a cool and clammy feeling.
Get Help Controlling Humidity from Green Energy Mechanical Inc.
One of the most critical elements of managing humidity with an air conditioner is using an adequately sized unit. An AC system that is too small for your home will struggle to control moisture. Keeping up with maintenance is also important to effective humidity management since a dirty or malfunctioning unit won’t work as well as it should.
If it’s difficult to keep your home comfortable on summer’s steamiest days, talk to Green Energy Mechanical Inc. about air conditioning repairs, maintenance services, or replacing the system with an upgraded model. Ask yourself, “Does running the air conditioner lower humidity?” and if the answer is no, ask us about an upgraded AC unit with advanced features like variable speed blower motors and thermal expansion valves that support better cooling and humidity control. We’ll make sure you’re getting the most from your air conditioner.
To make an appointment with one of our licensed technicians in Canton, MA, call (781) 236-3241 or use the online contact form. We are here to optimize your home comfort.
Author Bio:
Jonathan Neves
Worked in the HVAC industry since he was 17. He started as an HVAC service technician for commercial buildings and eventually came into the residential market because of his love of working with people. He believes that what really sets Green Energy Mechanical apart is how long they stand behind their work and how compassionate his employees are for their clients.
