Unless you’re a mosquito, it’s unlikely that you enjoy humidity in your home. To a certain extent, though, humidity is actually helpful. After all, humidity in your home helps to keep wood from cracking, keeps your skin moisturized, and soothes some common respiratory ailments.
At some point, though, you can definitely have too much humidity in your home. We at Integrated HVAC want to help you recognize the signs that your home’s humidity is too high. Here are a few of those signs for you to consider.
Your Air Conditioner Can’t Keep Up
One “cool” fact about your air conditioner is that it serves, at least in part, as a dehumidifier. That’s because removing humidity from the air is an effective way to make the air feel cooler. The evaporator coils in your air conditioner are cold enough to allow the humidity in your home’s air to condense, after which it drips away and is drained outside your home.
If there is too much humidity in the air, though, your air conditioner won’t be able to keep up. Typically, this will result in your air conditioner running for longer periods as it tries to remove more of the moisture from the air. You may also notice that your home doesn’t get as cool as it once did since there is more humidity in the air. If you run into this problem, you may need a separate dehumidifier from Integrated HVAC to help your air conditioner with the task of dehumidification.
Your Doors Don’t Work Properly
If your interior doors have tight tolerances, you could run into trouble if excess humidity builds in your home. Wood, which is used for most interior doors, is an incredibly porous material, meaning that it is quite good at absorbing large amounts of moisture. If the moisture in the air exceeds the normal needs of your home, then some of this excess will be stored in the doors and door frames throughout your home.
If this is the case, when you go to open and close your doors, you will find that this task is quite difficult, resulting in a lot of scraping and squealing that didn’t occur before. Of course, problematic doors could be caused by other problems as well, such as your house settling. However, if the problem occurs during seasons of high humidity, you most likely need a dehumidifier from Integrated HVAC to help restore balance.
Condensation on Windows
This tell-tale sign of high humidity occurs most often when the weather outside is cooler, although it can happen just about any time if the humidity levels in your home are high enough. As excess moisture in your home hits your cold windows, it condenses on the glass.
This problem occurs most often in bedrooms while people are sleeping because this causes excess moisture to be expelled through respiration. If you notice this problem, it’s also a good idea to have your windows inspected to ensure that the seals aren’t broken, which can allow excess cold air to enter your home. At the end of the day, though, condensation on windows is typically a sign that you need extra dehumidifying capacity via a dehumidifier.
Smell of Mildew
Even if you can’t see the mildew growing in your home, you will be able to smell it. Therefore, if your home has even a mild mildew smell, it could be a sign that you need Integrated HVAC to install a new dehumidifier.
High humidity levels in your home provide a welcoming environment for mildew to grow, especially in areas that aren’t often accessed by you or your family. If mildew growth becomes excessive, it can lead to respiratory issues.
At Integrated OK, we seek to be a solution for all your home needs. We want your family to be safe and healthy in the place you call home. Therefore, in addition to dehumidifier installation, we also offer a full line of electrical services, allowing you to have the peace of mind you need to get a good night’s sleep.
We’ve been serving the area for years and are certified by the EPA and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Our community makes us what we are, which is why we are proud to be locally owned and operated. What we’re most proud of, though, is our numerous five-star reviews from real customers just like you. To experience this legendary service in your home, give us a call at Integrated OK today.