Ever heard someone say this? It’s not the heat that is so unbearable, its the humidity! High humidity makes it more difficult for your HVAC system to cool your home or business. When this happens, we find ourselves continuously turning the thermostat down to stay cool. What’s more, high humidity can make your air conditioner work harder to cool and remove moisture, and also result in conditions leading to mold and mildew in your HVAC system, bathrooms, closets and attic.
So what can you do about eastern North Carolina humidity? Read on for some valuable tips.
Dealing With High Humidity
You would not want the humidity in your home above 50 percent, and it should perhaps be much lower (35-40 percent) in the summer so you’ll feel more comfortable. If you need to take serious steps to lower the humidity, try the following.
- Fix any plumbing leaks in the ceiling and roof, and in the bathroom and kitchen, Water may be slowly leaking out of pipes and ponding, which can cause much damage. Over time, your home may develop mold, or the wood and drywall could be ruined. Also, check the condensate drain for the air conditioner. Your HVAC contractor will check the drain when they perform your regular maintenance tune ups, but it is also a good idea to check it between their visits in case an issue occurs before they are scheduled to return. The condensate drain can develop clogs and overflow, which can cause much damage that can be costly to repair.
- Install exhaust ventilation to the outdoors. The bathroom and kitchen are two of the major sites where humidity is generated in the home. If you don’t have a range hood or bathroom exhaust fan, look about having them installed. Make sure they are exhausted to the outdoors, and not into the attic.
- Your HVAC contractor will change your air filter(s) during maintenance tune ups. If you use the 30 day filters, you will need to change the filters between your maintenance tune up visits. A dirty air filter can exacerbate humidity problems, preventing the air conditioner from doing its job of removing humidity from the air. Change the filter as often as the manufacturer recommends.
- Ask your HVAC contractor about installing a whole-house dehumidifier. This type of dehumidifier does a more efficient job than portable models.
To find solutions to controlling eastern North Carolina humidity in your home or business, contact Jackson and Sons. Family owned and operated for 43 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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