It’s a hot, humid 90 degrees outside and although your Air Conditioner is running like an Olympian, your house still feels sticky. Here in Northeast Ohio, we tend to have high humidity levels that accompany our dog days of summer. Are you a candidate for a whole house dehumidifier?
Humidity is the level of moisture in the air, but how it interacts with our body can drastically effect our comfort level. The human body cools itself by producing sweat which in turn evaporates and cools our skin. When the humidity level of the air around us is extremely high, our perspiration can’t evaporate and leaves us feeling sweaty and sticky all the time.
In addition to how our bodies feel, high humidity levels can have a negative impact on the health of our homes. I’m sure we’ve all experienced what happens to those Christmas decorations if they are stored in the damp basement; Santa will begin to grow a new beard…of mold. High humidity levels create a perfect environment for mold growth which can of course be very harmful for you and your family. Humidity can also infiltrate woodwork and furniture leaving your doors unable to close.
But shouldn’t my air conditioner take care of the humidity? Your air conditioner is great at cooling air, a process which yes does decrease humidity, but it can’t produce ideal indoor air quality and temperature on those really hot and sticky days. A whole house dehumidifier, however, can work with your air conditioner to alleviate the amount of moisture in the air. The key, in both the summer with high humidity and the winter with low humidity, is balance. Both system are very different and require different maintenance, however with a well adjusted dehumidifier, comfortable indoor air can be achieved. Call Optimum Climates today for a consultation and see how you can stay comfortable all year long.