HVAC Contributor
If your air conditioner is operating, is the humidity in your room still rising? You no longer need to be concerned!
You can take these easy steps to solve this problem before seeking professional assistance:
- Your thermostat’s fan setting should be checked and turned on.
- Coil cleaning for the evaporator.
- Put in a second dehumidifier.
It’s time to contact your HVAC expert to further examine the situation if the aforementioned fixes don’t resolve the issue.
Continue reading as we go into more detail about how these solutions can reduce the humidity in your room. We’ll also go over how much humidity you should keep and the consequences of having too much or too little humidity. We can also assist you if you are unsure of how to use your air conditioner’s dehumidifying features to their best potential. Continue reading!
How Does Your Thermostat Setting Impact Your Room’s Humidity?
The relative humidity in your home is influenced by your HVAC system and thermostat settings. Dry air, which has low humidity levels, can be uncomfortable and harmful. It can also damage wood furniture and floors and cause static electricity to accumulate.
High humidity levels can promote the development of mold and bacteria, which not only compromises the efficiency of your HVAC system but also poses a major health risk to everyone within.
How Much Humidity Should You Keep?
A humidity level of between 31 and 45 percent is ideal for every home. When the percentage falls below 30%, the air is too dry, and when it exceeds 50%, the humidity is too high.
High and inefficient moisture levels raise health issues. It is recommended to monitor and manage your home’s humidity level at a healthy level.
What happens then if the humidity is too high or too low?
Low humidity has a number of negative side effects, including dry skin, itchy eyes, and throat irritation.
High humidity levels can cause condensation on ceilings, walls, and other surfaces, which can also make your home seem stuffy. Condensation can cause harmful molds and germs to grow. These allergens can also lead to respiratory problems and aggravate allergies and asthma episodes.
How Can AC Evaporator Coils Be Cleaned?
The evaporator coils in an air conditioner are among its most important parts. In addition to giving you the necessary cooling, it also helps to reduce humidity in your space. As a result, it’s crucial to take care of them.
You may clean your evaporator coils by following these easy steps:
- Turn off the air conditioning system at the thermostat.
- Switch off the circuit breaker to avoid any electrical mishaps.
- By opening the air conditioner, you can find the coils on the air handler.
- The panel can be made more flexible by removing each screw. To keep them safe, put them somewhere they won’t get lost.
- Finally, thoroughly clean them with your go-to cleaning solution.
What Effect Does Having an Oversized HVAC System in Your Home Have?
There is such a thing as too big when it comes to air conditioners. Larger systems are generally thought to function more effectively.
Bigger clearly means more cooling power when referring about air conditioner machines.
Due to the fact that a larger system is intended to cool a wider space, this is not necessarily the case. To determine whether a larger system has finished its task, more work must be put into it.
Short cycling and AC cooling but not humidity removal are symptoms of an oversized AC unit, and they include:
Rooms That Are Too Cold And Humid
This is normally where the internal air handler and any window or portable air conditioners are located in mini-splits. Only the temperature may be lowered by air conditioning; not the humidity.
Rooms That Are Too Hot And Humid
A large air conditioner’s excessive cooling output may enable one room to reach the target temperature while warming other areas. The result is a lack of cooling and dehumidification.
AC Frequently Comes On And Goes Off
This is a typical sign of short cycling in an AC unit that is too big.
Why Is A Dehumidifier Necessary?
Installing a dehumidifier in the home can be advantageous to you and your system. These tools are specifically designed to take water from the air, much like an evaporator coil does.
This remedy may be the best choice if your air conditioner simply isn’t cutting it or if you have a larger system that cools but can’t completely eliminate the humidity.
If your system is flawless but the humidity is an issue, this might be your best choice.
If your home is small or if there only seems to be one room that is humidier than the others, you might be able to get by with a portable dehumidifier.
How Can You Make The Most Of Your Air Conditioner’s Humidity-Removal Function?
Here are some actions you may take to use your air conditioner to remove extra humidity:
- Cleaning The Coils Frequently
- Adjust The Fan’s Speed
- Put A Thermal Expansion Valve There (TXV)
- Check The Charge Of Your Refrigerant
Cleaning The Coils Frequently
When your indoor evaporator coil is covered with dust and grime, it won’t be able to remove all of the heat and humidity that it should. Even if the coil isn’t dirty enough to prevent the AC from cooling your home, it might be dirty enough to make moisture removal difficult.
Adjust The Fan’s Speed
In hot, humid weather, your air conditioner must circulate air at a rate of 350 CFM per ton or less. More equipment exists that can transport air more quickly than that. The removal of humidity is not suited for a faster rate.
If you adjust the fan speed of an air conditioner to more than 350 CFM per ton, cooled air will enter your home quite quickly.
Since the indoor coil is designed to circulate air at a rate of 350 CFM per ton, the airflow is reduced, allowing the coil to cool. While still keeping the temperature you’ve set on your thermostat, it can remove more moisture when it’s cooler.
Put A Thermal Expansion Valve There (TXV)
When you install a TXV, you are effectively attaching a bulb to your evaporator line. The bulb opens and closes based on how much refrigerant is necessary to maximize the quantity of the indoor coil that can be utilised at any given temperature.
A TXV, to put it simply, improves the evaporator coil’s capacity to remove heat and moisture.
Check The Charge Of Your Refrigerant
Your air conditioner won’t be able to efficiently lower the heat or humidity in your home so that you can remain comfortable if the charge is too low. Eventually, this problem could deteriorate into something worse, such as coil freezing or compressor failure.
These problems go well beyond simply feeling uncomfortable. It’s possible that you’ll have to pay for an expensive repair or maybe have your system replaced.
Final Reflections
Fixing humidity problems seems like a really simple procedure. Simply perform an indoor coil cleaning, examine and modify your thermostat settings, or install an additional dehumidifier.
So, if your growing humidity issue still persists, it’s time to consult a professional.
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