Mention winter and humidity in the same sentence to most people, and they’ll assume you mean low humidity. Cold, dry winter air is the norm across much of the country. However, that cold, dry air becomes cold, moist air along much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, and moist air can worsen indoor air quality. Avalon Air Heating & Cooling is here to help to help you solve these winter humidity challenges.
How Humidity Affects Comfort
Put simply, the more moisture there is in the air, the warmer the air will seem. This is actually part of the process behind air conditioning. As warm air passes through the system and over the refrigerant, the moisture in the air condenses and drips away. This lowers the humidity and makes the air feel even cooler. But when the AC can’t remove enough moisture, the air still feels damp and a little too warm.
The excessive moisture makes the air feel heavier, and it can seem stifling if levels are too high. You may notice that things like dish towels don’t dry quickly. This is because the air is already so saturated that it’s harder for the moisture in the towel to evaporate. You may also find a lot of condensation on your windows, leading to mold and mildew formation. And if the ventilation in your home doesn’t work well, the closeness and moisture can trap more pollutants and dust mites.
Why Warm, Humid Air in Winter Is a Problem
Maybe you’re thinking, well, that’s no big deal. If the weather’s nice, you can open a window and turn on the fans. But if the air outside is very humid, that’s not going to help much. You’re not letting out moist air and letting in drier air. You’re just exchanging moist air for moist air. You’ll get a breeze from nearby fans, but when you step away, the humidity will hit you with full force.
Plus, on cold days, chances are that you won’t want to open your window or run your air conditioner. Doing so would remove some of that moisture, but it could make the house feel too cold. So, you’re sort of stuck with this clammy, stale air that has you and your house sweating. Of course, if you choose to run the air conditioner to lower the humidity, your bills go up, and you get cold.
But that’s not all. What about those allergens and other pollutants that are trapped in the humid air? You’re breathing those in. They aren’t just sticking to tabletops and walls. High humidity provides a very favorable environment for dust mites and airborne mold spores, too.
Some Humidity Is Good to Have
While humidity can interfere with your sense of comfort, it’s not a totally bad thing. You want your home to have some humidity because indoor air that’s too dry isn’t good, either. You trade the mold of excessively high humidity for the dry skin and sinuses of excessively low humidity. The ideal humidity level for inside a home is between 30% and 50%. If your home’s humidity is regularly outside this range, you must have an HVAC service check out your home.
How to Protect Your Home’s Air Quality
Improving ventilation is definitely one part of the solution. However, as previously mentioned, the humidity outside will prevent ventilation from solving the entire problem. You may want to consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier. While you could use portable dehumidifiers, you’d need to manually empty their tanks every few hours.
A whole-house dehumidifier’s maintenance requirements are similar to those of the HVAC system. It will run all year long, so schedule a bi-annual inspection. Check the air filter monthly and clean or replace it at least every 3 months, and empty the reservoir as needed. You could also purchase a system with a hose that drains the water outside.
Make Your Home Comfortable Again
Pensacola has to deal with some high humidity in winter. But that doesn’t mean you just have to put up with it. There are ways to make your home more comfortable, lower indoor humidity, and improve indoor air quality. Avalon Air Heating & Cooling can help you find solutions for indoor air quality and humidity issues. We can also help you with air conditioning and heating repairs, freon recharging, and system installation.
Call Avalon Air Heating & Cooling today for an evaluation and free estimate!
