Humidity In The Summer

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When many of us think of humidity, we think of those muggy, uncomfortable summer conditions. The humidity levels obviously have a huge impact on your comfort level when you’re outside, but what about inside of your home? The internal humidity levels of your home are actually a key component for your health, your comfort, and your energy bills.

 

What Exactly Is Humidity?

At the very basic level, humidity is simply the level of water vapor in the air. In Central Kentucky especially, there is always some level of water vapor present, so why use it to measure temperatures? Humidity actually causes you to feel hot because any moisture trapped in the air around you will retain heat. So the higher the humidity level in the air, the hotter you will feel. Unlike a dry heat however, humid heat can’t be easily processed by your body. As your body begins to register heat, it will naturally try to cool itself off by sweating. However, with humid conditions, any sweat your body produces will be unable to evaporate off of your skin. Instead, this sweat will remain on your skin and trap the heat. This sensation is why humid conditions tend to feel more miserably muggy than dry heat conditions.

 

Humidity And Your Cooling System

Since humid conditions will inevitably cause discomfort, your cooling system is designed to balance humidity in your home. In fact, your cooling system actively works to remove heat and excess moisture from your air. As warm air is pulled into your system, it is passed over the evaporator coil. This coil causes the water vapor in the warm air to condense, so it can be separated from the air itself. Your cooling system can then move the cool, dry air into your home and drain the condensation outside. A properly performing cooling system will be able to completely handle the humidity levels for your home.

 

How To Balance Humidity In Your Home

During the summer season, a bump in your indoor temperature and humidity levels can be expected. However, if you and your family are experiencing abnormal and uncomfortable humidity levels, then your system may be in need of repair. If you notice a moist and clammy feeling throughout your home, any musty or damp smells, or a moist and sticky feel across your wood furniture or floors, then you have an excessive humidity level. To help alleviate these issues, be sure to schedule a system check for your cooling system. An unbalanced humidity level indicates an unbalanced cooling system, which can quickly be diagnosed with a complete system check. If you still prefer to have a drier climate inside of your home, then consider a dehumidifier. A single dehumidifier can help remove moisture from a specific room or a whole-home dehumidifier can assist your cooling system in eliminating unwanted moisture from your entire home.

 

For more information on dehumidifiers, or to schedule a System Check & Safety Inspection, call Fayette Heating & Air today at 859-233-0424.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]