Why Controlling the Humidity Inside Your Building is Important

Have you ever walked into a building and felt an immediate, uncomfortable clamminess in the air? Or perhaps you noticed your allergies acting up more than usual indoors? The culprit behind these issues might be something you can’t even see: controlling the humidity inside your building.

For the most comfortable indoor environment, try to maintain a humidity level within the 30% to 50% range. While temperature often takes the spotlight, humidity is one of the defining factors affecting the comfort and health of your indoor environment. Here in Indianapolis, IN, where weather can be unpredictable, humidity control is vital for residential and commercial buildings.

That’s where our technicians at Kight’s Quality Air Conditioning & Heating Repair can help. We’re not just about temperature but about creating a complete sense of indoor well-being.

What contributes to higher humidity in your home?

Ok, so you noticed that it’s more humid in your home – now what? Now, it’s important to understand the factors contributing to higher humidity levels in your home to effectively address the issue. Here’s what can contribute to higher humidity levels within your home:

• Everyday Activities: Showering, cooking, and even breathing release moisture into the air.
• Leaks and Poor Ventilation: Leaky pipes, roofs, or windows can introduce moisture, while inadequate ventilation prevents its escape.
• Climate and Weather: Humid climates and specific weather conditions, like heavy rain, naturally lead to higher outdoor and indoor humidity levels.
• Lack of Dehumidification: Excess moisture can accumulate indoors without a dehumidifier or proper HVAC system maintenance.
• Oversized Air Conditioner: An AC unit that’s too large for your home may not run long enough to remove humidity from the air.

By understanding these contributors, you can proactively manage humidity levels and create a comfortable and healthy living environment.

What are the consequences of higher humidity?

While high humidity might seem like a minor inconvenience, it can have a significant impact on your Indianapolis home and your health. Here are some of the consequences you might face:

• Discomfort: That sticky, clammy feeling isn’t just unpleasant; it can make it harder for your body to cool down, leading to fatigue and irritability. Believe it or not, it can dry out your skin and eyes. During Indianapolis summers, this can make your home feel like a sauna.
• Mold and Mildew Growth: Excess moisture creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can cause respiratory problems, allergies, and even structural damage to your home.
• Dust Mite Infestation: Dust mites thrive in humid environments. High humidity levels can increase the dust mite populations and worsen allergy and asthma symptoms.
• Structural Damage: Moisture can warp wood, damage drywall, and even compromise your home’s foundation over time.
• Musty Odors: High humidity often leads to unpleasant, musty smells that can linger in your home and be difficult to eliminate.
• Increased Energy Costs: When your home is humid, your air conditioner has to work harder to cool and dehumidify the air, leading to higher energy bills.

As you can see, high humidity isn’t just uncomfortable; it can have serious consequences for your health, home, and wallet.

Impact of high humidity on your HVAC system

If all of that wasn’t bad enough for you, your family, and your home, high humidity can affect your HVAC system, too. It can also put a strain on your HVAC system, leading to:

• Reduced efficiency: High humidity makes it harder for your air conditioner to cool your home, which means it has to work harder and use more energy. This can lead to higher energy bills.
• Increased wear and tear: The extra work that your air conditioner has to do can lead to increased wear and tear on its components, such as the compressor and coils. This can shorten the lifespan of your system and lead to more frequent repairs.
• Frozen evaporator coils: In extreme cases, high humidity can cause the evaporator coils in your air conditioner to freeze. This can prevent your system from cooling your home and damage the coils.
• Poor indoor air quality: High humidity can promote the growth of mold and mildew, leading to poor indoor air quality. This can cause respiratory problems, allergies, and other health problems.

If you are concerned about the effects of high humidity on your HVAC system, you can take steps to reduce the moisture in your home. These include:

• Using a dehumidifier
• Increasing ventilation
• Taking shorter showers
• Cooking with lids on pots and pans
• Drying clothes outdoors or using a clothes dryer with a vent

When you take steps to control the humidity in your home, you can protect your HVAC system from its damaging effects.

When is the time to seek professional HVAC help?

OK, you’ve reached your limit. The humidity is terrible, everything is gross, there’s condensation on the windows, and your wooden floors are slick and potential slip hazards. It’s time to call some professional help.

But you don’t want to call someone for just anything. How do you know when it’s time for a professional to deal with the high humidity? Fortunately, there are many signs that tell you when it’s time to seek HVAC help with managing your home’s high humidity:

Visible Signs

• Condensation on windows or walls: This clearly indicates that the air is holding too much moisture.
• Rusting on metal surfaces: High humidity can accelerate rusting.
• Warped wood: High humidity can cause wood to warp and crack.

HVAC System Signs:

• Your air conditioner is running but not effectively cooling your home: This could indicate that your system is overloaded with moisture.
• Your air conditioner is freezing up: This serious problem can damage your system.
• Your energy bills are increasing: High humidity can make your air conditioner work harder, leading to higher energy bills.

If you are experiencing any of these signs, it’s time to call a professional HVAC technician to inspect your system and recommend solutions. Your situation calls for a company with a hard-working team that can handle your home’s humidity issues and fix them without headaches. Kight’s Quality Air Conditioning and Heating Repair is that professional.

Why choose Kight’s high-quality services?

Kight’s Quality Air Conditioning & Heating Repair is your reliable partner in maintaining a comfortable home through exceptional HVAC services. Our dedication to excellence, backed by years of experience and a strong focus on customer satisfaction, will serve you well. Choose us for affordable repairs, installations and maintenance, and peace of mind knowing that your HVAC system will run efficiently and effectively.

Contact us today, and let’s work together to create a comfortable and energy-efficient living environment for you and your family.