The temperatures are rising as we get closer to summer. You may have already begun to notice how you have your thermostat set on 74 degrees but it seems like 80.
Why does high humidity make it seem hotter than it really is? A lot of customers struggle with being able to keep their system running efficiently in hotter temperatures because of humidity. They are unable to enjoy some of the benefits of a high efficiency system if they haven’t opted to also have a humidity control option. We seem hotter in high humidity because of the amount of moisture that is in the air. With there being more moisture in the air, the air is unable to absorb much more. This is because our bodies regular temperature by sweating. As we warm up, our bodies sweat and release moisture. If the air is unable to absorb much more moisture, it stays on our skin much longer. This means we feel the weight of the moisture on our skin. It also makes our clothing cling to us – giving us that familiar “heavy” feeling – especially when we are wearing cotton. Therefore the higher the humidity, the less ability the air has to take the moisture from the surface of our skin. This means our bodies are unable to efficiently release heat – making us feel much warmer. In turn, we oftentimes turn down our thermostats. This can make the system cool the air off, lowering humidity the “hard way”. In other words, instead of removing the moisture from the air with humidity control, the system will work harder to lower the temperature. In turn, lower temperatures will eventually mean the humidity will drop. You are basically manually adjusting your own dew point inside your home.
The easier way to accomplish this is to have a humidity control option for your HVAC system. This means that as the air is circulated throughout your system and home, it draws the moisture out of the air before re-circulating it. When it is done this way, you are able to keep the temperatures higher on your thermostat (saving more money on bills), because the moisture is already being removed from your air. In comparison, if you lower the humidity by controlling temperature and not moisture, you will spend more money to be comfortable. Your HVAC system will have to work harder to bring the temperature down while circulating air heavy with moisture. A whole-home dehumidifier will not only make you more comfortable, it will also immediately reflect savings on your utility bills! If you’d like some more information on adding a whole-home dehumidifier to your HVAC system, let us know and we’d be happy to discuss your options with you!
