Tampa Bay, Florida, is breathtaking and beautiful. However, its climate poses some challenges for homeowners. Namely, managing indoor humidity. High humidity can decrease the efficiency of your air conditioner. It can affect your health, home, and indoor air quality.
That’s why home humidity control in Tampa is crucial. Learning how to prevent these concerns will benefit your AC, health, and home. With Fairway Heating and Cooling HVAC experts, you can understand how to master humidity control and why it matters.
What Is Humidity?
Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. Often, you will feel sticky or damp in humid conditions. If you live in Tampa, its climate has high humidity year-round, usually exceeding 70%.
Absolute vs. Relative Humidity
Absolute humidity measures the actual amount of moisture in the air, regardless of the temperature. Relative humidity measures water vapor relative to the temperature.
However, we often use relative humidity because it better represents how humid the air feels.
How Can Humidity Affect Your Tampa Home and AC?
While some moisture in the air is normal, having too much can be an issue. Ideally, humidity should remain between 40 to 60% in your home. High levels can be detrimental to your home and AC system. Controlling humidity in your home is necessary for a safe environment and optimal AC function.
High humidity can lead to the following concerns:
- Debris buildup
High humidity may cause the air filter to become contaminated with dirt and debris. Then, the debris can get caught in your filter. Once you have a clogged AC filter, your system spreads those pollutants through your ductwork.
- Mold and Bacteria Growth
With increased humidity, mold, and bacteria can grow within your home and in the AC ducts. Consequently, you may suffer from reduced indoor air quality.
- Health Issues
High humidity may lead to mold and mildew. As a result, you can experience allergies and respiratory issues. Mold may cause other health concerns, such as:
- Rashes
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal Issues (i.e., nausea, vomiting)
- Lung disease
- Infections
Dust mites also can thrive in moist environments, further exacerbating health concerns.
- Home Damage
Tampa’s homes are vulnerable to humidity due to frequent hurricanes and heat. The moisture buildup can warp wood, peel paint, and cause structural issues.
- Discomfort
Along with damaging your home, moisture leads to discomfort. More so, it becomes a challenge to stay cool.
- Reduced Cooling Efficiency
Tampa’s year-round heat and humidity can reduce your AC’s function. The warm air negates the cooling effect, limiting your system’s cooling efficiency.
- A Weakened AC Unit
A decreased cooling efficiency weakens your system, especially without routine maintenance. This ongoing stress may increase energy costs and reduce AC lifespan.
- Frozen Evaporator Coils
Humidity and debris buildup can affect your AC’s internal components. Contaminants can also build up on your evaporator coils, causing them to freeze. Evaporator coils remove humidity from the air. So, if they freeze, they will no longer remove humidity from your home.
Why Does Humidity Control Matter?
Effectively mastering humidity control is beneficial for your home and AC.
The following are the advantages of managing humidity in your home:
- Prevents Contaminants
Humidity within the normal range decreases the risk of mold and mildew growth.
- Minimizes Health Issues
You will have fewer health issues when you limit humidity in your home.
- Protects Your Home
Controlling moisture helps prevent damage in your home.
- Increases AC Lifespan
Your AC’s lifespan will be longer when you maintain low humidity in your home.
- Improves Indoor Air Quality
Lowering humidity decreases the following contaminants in your home and AC:
- Dirt
- Dust
- Dust Mites
- Mold and mildew
- Enhances Comfort and Energy Efficiency
Controlling moisture levels allows your home to feel cooler. Ultimately, this will help you to be comfortable in your home, which is important. In addition, lower humidity keeps your AC functioning efficiently and minimizes energy costs.
Mastering Humidity Control In Your Tampa Home
It’s essential to be proactive about managing humidity. There are strategies you can use immediately to prevent moisture from increasing in your home.
You can master home humidity control in Tampa in the following ways:
- Using a Dehumidifier
To reduce humidity in your home, purchase a dehumidifier. It will remove excess moisture, keeping moisture within a normal range.
- Monitoring Indoor Humidity
Checking indoor humidity helps you determine when it’s too high. To monitor the moisture levels in your home, use a hygrometer. Hygrometers measure relative humidity. Once you have an accurate humidity reading, you can work toward reducing it. These measurements allow you to adjust your strategies until your home is comfortable.
- Scheduling HVAC System Maintenance
Modern HVAC systems have mechanisms that reduce indoor humidity. However, if your system is not cooling effectively, schedule routine maintenance. Maintenance ensures your system is functioning optimally and prevents moisture from building up.
- Improving Ventilation
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to vent moisture outside. You can circulate air throughout your home by keeping interior doors open. Also, open windows on cooler, less humid days to bring fresh airflow indoors. This prevents your AC from working as hard to reduce the humidity.
- Changing AC Air Filters
Changing your AC air filters ensures proper airflow through the system. It also allows the evaporator coils to remove moisture from the air efficiently.
- Checking and Cleaning Evaporator Coils
Rising moisture in your home may be a result of evaporator coils. If you suspect they are dirty, contact your local HVAC professional to check and clean them.
- Sealing Gaps in Your Home and AC Ductwork
Seal windows, doors, and other gaps in your home with weatherstripping or caulk. This prevents humidity from entering your home and maintains consistent indoor temperatures. More so, have an HVAC professional check your ductwork. Leaks in your ducts can increase humidity. If there are leaks, an expert will seal them.
Contact Fairway Heating and Cooling for Help with Indoor Humidity!
Mastering humidity control is essential for Tampa homeowners. High humidity levels can cause discomfort while harming your home and health. As a result, your AC can also function inefficiently. The good news is you can use our guide to prevent these problems from occurring.
Fairway Heating and Cooling HVAC experts recommend being proactive about managing humidity. For help with humidity control, consult Fairway Heating and Cooling HVAC experts in Tampa Bay, Florida. We go the extra mile when it comes to serving our customers. At Fairway, we prioritize your family’s health and comfort. More importantly, we remain dedicated to excellence with all HVAC services.
We specialize in the following services:
- AC inspections
- Maintenance
- Repairs
- Installation
- Duct sealing
- Indoor air quality
- Mold removal
Contact us today to speak with a customer service agent or to schedule an estimate!
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