Can You Lower Humidity by Running the Air Conditioner?

Unwanted humidity can cause multiple problems, including mold spores, musty odors, structural issues, and an unpleasant muggy feeling. That’s why it’s important to control humidity if you want to enhance indoor air quality and home comfort. 

The recommended relative humidity level is about 30 to 50 percent. Summer is typically the hardest time of year to stick inside this range. Luckily, using the air conditioner can help. 

After all, air conditioning doesn’t just cool your home—it also decreases humidity. Here’s details of how this works, alongside with tips to adjust indoor humidity levels. 

How Air Conditioning Eliminates Humidity 

Contrary to what you might think, your air conditioner doesn’t increase cool, dry air in your home—it removes heat and humidity. The process involves refrigerant, which stores heat and moisture effectively from the indoor air. Here’s what happens: 

• Indoor air rushes through the ductwork and passes over the evaporator coil that contains cold refrigerant. 
• The refrigerant stores heat, and the moisture in the air condenses on the coil. 

• The condensation flows into the condensate pan beneath the evaporator coil and drains out of the system. 
• Cooled, dehumidified air blows back into your home. 

Tips to Decrease Humidity 

Running the air conditioner may be adequate to push the relative humidity under 50 percent in dry climates. But if high humidity is still a problem in your home, try again with these tips. 

Ventilate Properly 

Use the exhaust fan in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room when you shower, cook and wash clothes. Detached ventilation lowers humidity at the source to keep these rooms more comfortable. You can also open a window when it’s comfortable outside to allow in fresh air. 

Wipe Up Standing Water 

Water on shower tiles, kitchen counters and laundry room floors increase indoor humidity and could promote mold spores. Dry any standing water promptly to prevent these problems. 

Run a Dehumidifier 

If you grapple with extreme humidity in the summer, look into installing a whole-house dehumidifier that runs in tandem with your air conditioner to make every room more comfortable. A whole-house system can even function independently of the AC to eliminate humidity on milder days without using the air conditioner. This approach saves you money and doesn’t leave you with that “cool but clammy” feeling. 

Adjust the AC Fan to Auto 

The condensation that gathers on the evaporator coil needs time to build up and trickle away. If you are running the air conditioning fan constantly, the moisture will blow back into your home. That’s why it’s better to adjust the fan to “auto” so it is only on when the AC compressor starts. You should be able to adjust this setting easily on your thermostat. 

Replace the Air Filter Consistently 

An obstructed air filter traps dust and debris and could support mold growth if it gets wet. This adds more moisture and mold spores into your home any time the AC turns on. Exchange the air filter once a month or as suggested by the manufacturer to reduce indoor humidity and increase air quality. 

Fine Tune the Fan Speed 

Refining the fan speed can be tricky. High airflow helps the AC keep up with cooling demand on the hottest days, but this may lead to shorter cycles that prevent effective dehumidification. Work with an HVAC technician to help you choose the right fan speed for your comfort requirements. 

Check the Cleanliness of the Evaporator Coil 

A grimy coil can’t cool and dehumidify well. If your AC is having trouble maintaining the preferred temperature, get in touch with our HVAC specialists to maintain your cooling system and check the cleanliness of the evaporator coil. Cooling and dehumidifying efficiency should improve as a result. 

Confirm the Refrigerant Charge 

Insufficient refrigerant can impede your air conditioner’s ability to carry out its job. Left unchecked, major issues including a frozen evaporator coil or compressor failure can happen. Only a qualified HVAC technician can mend refrigerant leaks and recharge the system as required, offering you another reason to arrange an AC tune-up. 

Upgrade Your Air Conditioner 

If your home has constant comfort problems and your air conditioner is getting older, it might be time to look for a new one. Select a new AC system with modern features, like a thermal expansion valve (TXV) and variable blower motor. A TXV delivers the precise amount of refrigerant based on the air temperature, and a variable blower motor increases or decreases the fan speed to suit demand. Both features improve cooling and dehumidifying efficiency. 

Balance Indoor Humidity with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning 

If you decide it’s time to install a whole-house dehumidifier or upgrade your air conditioner, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Our HVAC services are designed to improve home comfort and energy efficiency for your long-term satisfaction. To share questions or schedule a visit from one of our certified heating and cooling technicians, please call us today.