The humidity is really something this time of year in our area. Are you getting tired of it? Do you sometimes feel like you’d just as easily swim as walk through the air? What can you possibly do? We recommend a whole house dehumidifier. There are many benefits they provide such as improved indoor air quality and comfort. Here are the details. If you’d like more information about whole house dehumidifiers in Jefferson County, AL, we’d be delighted to answer all your questions.
How Humidity Lowers Air Quality
It’s simply less pleasant to breathe wet, heavy air. You might feel like you simply never get enough oxygen. But there are some specific issues that you might not have considered. High humidity can have a measurable negative effect on your indoor air quality! Why? Because unpleasant things really like that humid air.
When your home has high humidity, it’s much easier for things to grow. And we don’t just mean things you want growing, like a potted plant. No, we mean bacteria, algae, and mold, which can grow in dark, moist corners, in your air ducts, or in the condensate pan of your air conditioner. Mold in particular can be very toxic, spreading spores and causing allergy symptoms and respiratory distress.
How Humidity Affects Your Comfort
To cool itself, your body perspires. Every bit of air that passes by your body takes a speck of that perspiration with it, and that means it also carries away a little of your body heat. But if the air is already so humid that it can’t absorb even a little bit of perspiration, you stay sweaty, and your body stays hot. Drier air carries away more moisture and thus more heat, making you feel cooler at the same temperature.
This means that with a whole house dehumidifier, you can not only be more comfortable, you can even raise your thermostat a few degrees. You’ll feel just as cool, but your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard. This will lower your electric bill and lower the risk that your air conditioner will need repairs.
How Humidity Damages Your Home
That mold we mentioned above can cause a great deal of damage. In fact, mold mitigation is a thriving industry for just this reason, and it can cost a lot to get professional help removing mold mess! Humidity can also damage your home just by exposure to moisture. Wood swells, varnish blisters, and paint and wallpaper peel away. With lower humidity, you won’t have any of these concerns.
How Whole House Dehumidifiers Work
While a portable dehumidifier can remove a little bit of moisture from the air and can work well in small, enclosed spaces, it won’t make much difference to the overall humidity in an entire house. A whole house dehumidifier will. It’s installed in your HVAC system’s ductwork, and it draws moisture out of all the air that passes through.
“Your experience is what matters most!” Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today for help with all your indoor air quality needs.
