High Humidity Levels Could Mean You Need AC Repairs

High humidity levels in your Gainesville, FL, home do more than make your home feel warmer in the summer. Excessive humidity affects your air conditioner’s cooling performance, reduces your home’s indoor air quality, and can cause damage to the system. In this short post, you’ll learn more about what causes high humidity, the damage it does to your AC unit, and steps you can take to reduce humid conditions in your home.

What Causes High Humidity?

Humidity levels can rise when you have an oversized air conditioning system. You might think bigger is better, but in this instance, it’s not. An oversized system runs too frequently, turning itself on and off, before removing all the moisture from the air. If this is the problem in your home, installing a smaller system could solve the problem.

Other causes of high indoor humidity include:

• Negative air pressure
• Using a single-speed AC unit versus a variable-speed unit
• Leaving the fan in the “on” position

How High Humidity Levels Damage Your AC Unit

Humidity strains air conditioners and can affect cooling performance. It can also cause breakdowns, such as the drain pan and condensate pump issues. The drain pan collects moisture, preventing it from getting into the AC unit. If the AC releases too much moisture, the drain pan could overflow and put the unit at risk of taking on water that damages mechanical and electrical parts. More likely what will happen is the condensate pump will experience excessive wear and tear, becoming damaged and needing costly repairs.

How to Manage Indoor Humidity

A whole-house dehumidifier is the best way to manage indoor humidity. It removes excess moisture from the air and keeps your home’s relative humidity between 30-50 percent; the range recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

If high humidity levels affect your air conditioner, and you need professional AC repairs, reach out to the team at Browning Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC for effective solutions.