High indoor humidity is a problem that affects many homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Part of the reason for this is simply because of how hot and humid our weather can be at times. However, certain issues with your HVAC system make it more difficult to control humidity inside your house. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about humidity control, why it matters, and what options you have for ensuring your HVAC system isn’t contributing to humidity issues.
Why Humidity Matters for DFW Homeowners
Ensuring your home isn’t too humid can help to greatly improve your comfort, as humid air always makes your body feel hotter. There are also potential health concerns if your home is always overly humid—especially for people with allergies or asthma. One is that humid air can lead to condensation forming and result in indoor mold growth. Dust mites are another common household allergen, and they thrive in warm, moist conditions. High humidity has the potential to do structural damage to your home as well by leading to wooden studs, floor joists, and rafters rotting, cracking, or warping.
Common HVAC Issues That Cause High Humidity
Your HVAC system normally helps to reduce indoor humidity when the air conditioning is running. Moisture continually condenses on the evaporator coil when the AC is on, resulting in the cooled air the system puts out being drier than the air coming into the system. Many newer AC systems in our area are equipped with additional dehumidification features to further help with humidity control.
One time when your AC won’t provide effective humidity control is if it is oversized and continually short cycles, meaning it only runs for a few minutes at a time. The issue with short cycling is that the AC system never runs long enough to remove more than a small amount of moisture from the air, resulting in the humidity level continually increasing. Issues like your AC leaking water because of a clogged condensate drain line or air leaks in your ductwork can also lead to additional moisture being added to the air inside your house. This would lead to it being much more humid.
Signs Your HVAC System May Be the Culprit
One of the signs that your HVAC system isn’t providing effective humidity control or contributing to humidity issues is if the air in your house always feels clammy. Another sign is if the air the system puts out smells musty or moldy. Two other issues to watch out for are foggy windows and surface condensation. If you notice an uptick in your allergy symptoms, it can also indicate that humidity has contributed to mold growth and/or an increase in dust mites inside your house.
How AirCo Helps DFW Homeowners Control Humidity
At AirCo, we have all of the solutions you need to effectively control humidity in your house and improve your comfort. We offer professional HVAC inspections and can identify any issues that are preventing your air conditioning from working effectively enough to keep your home from being too humid. Our AC repair services can overcome any problems to improve performance and keep your energy bills from increasing.
Routine AC maintenance is also essential for avoiding any issues that could further increase the humidity level inside your house. This includes things like your AC leaking water because the condensate drain is clogged, or the evaporator coil keeps freezing and then causing the drain pan to overflow as the ice melts.
If you constantly struggle with high humidity in your house during the hotter parts of the year, installing a whole-house dehumidifier is the most effective option for overcoming this problem. This type of unit works with the AC system to further dry out the air the system puts out. You can also run the unit on its own any time your house is too humid, but not hot enough that your AC needs to run. We also have numerous other options for boosting your indoor air quality and ensuring you can maintain a healthy, comfortable environment.
Schedule HVAC Humidity Control Services in DFW Today
Our expert team is ready to provide all of the help you need to overcome high humidity in your home. Whether it’s repairing or maintaining your AC or installing a whole-home dehumidifier, you can trust that you’ll receive quality work and be treated with respect. We offer same-day service calls and next-day installations, and we provide a full customer satisfaction guarantee on all of our work. To schedule service for your DFW home, contact us today.
