Living in the coastal part of Orange County, CA provides fantastic weather for most of the year. However, there are times when the humidity from the coastal waters can reduce the effectiveness of your HVAC system. At JW Mitchell Heating & Air Conditioning, your comfort is our priority, so we have compiled this list of five strategies to manage humidity levels in your home and enjoy the benefits of improved indoor air quality. Let’s take a look.
1. Decrease the Amount of Moisture in Your Home
The first thing to do to better manage the humidity levels in your home is to decrease the amount of moisture in your living space. To achieve this, you can lower the humidity in the air. A dehumidifier can easily handle this task for you. If the moisture accumulates in a specific area, then a single-room dehumidifier will suffice. If your entire home has excess moisture, then consider installing a whole-home dehumidifier.
A whole-home dehumidifier is an excellent way to prevent mold and mildew growth in your home, as it maintains optimal humidity levels. Dust mites flourish in humid environments, potentially triggering asthma attacks and allergy problems. With a dehumidifier in place, your entire household can breathe more easily.
2. Improve the Amount of Ventilation in Your Living Space
Certain areas of your home need extra ventilation to make sure that extra moisture is not an issue. This could mean using an exhaust fan in the bathroom for improved airflow or opening a window in the laundry room to prevent moisture from lingering in the space. Kitchens are also areas where excess humidity can accumulate. However, by increasing airflow, whether with a fan or an air conditioner, the humidity levels should decrease, making the space more comfortable.
3. Upgrade to an HVAC System with Higher Efficiency
Not all cooling systems are going to use optimal efficiency to cool your home, especially in a humid environment. If your cooling system is relatively old, there are likely some upgrades that you can do to make your system more efficient. One option that will help your cooling system work better in a humid environment is a variable speed HVAC system. When you have the option of changing the HVAC system to a lower speed for a longer period, the unit is able to remove more moisture from the air without changing the temperature in your home.
4. Check Thermostat Settings on Cooling Unit
If it seems that the humidity levels in your home are still high, even with the air conditioner on, check the temperature setting on the unit. If the air conditioner is set to Fan, it brings in humid air from outside. This air will stay humid in your living space because this setting does not remove moisture from the air but merely circulates the humid air.
Additionally, if the air conditioner is set to Cool, and high humidity levels remain, the unit may be working too hard to cool the area. If this is the case, you can simply set the thermostat to a slightly higher level to reduce the amount of work the cooling unit needs to do. It will be able to focus on removing the moisture from the air more efficiently and then bringing the temperature to a more comfortable level.
5. Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance
When you live in an area where high humidity is common, scheduling regular maintenance on your AC and heating system is necessary. When you combine coastal humidity with the salt that is in the air in Orange County, there is a good chance that parts of your cooling system will need repairs.
Small parts can easily corrode over time, and regular maintenance ensures that they are not worn too much. At JW Mitchell Heating & Air Conditioning, we also ensure that you have optimal airflow in your home and that your cooling system operates efficiently to keep your household comfortable.
Contact a Reliable HVAC Company for Optimal Cooling
If you need a reliable HVAC company that commits to ensuring that your comfort is a priority in your home, JW Mitchell Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help improve your indoor air quality and home comfort. Our team has more than 30 years of experience serving Orange County and the surrounding area.
If your cooling system is not working as efficiently as it should be, call us to schedule an appointment today!
