The Benefits of Dehumidifiers

Tuesday, June 7th, 2016 at 11:00 am

People give a lot of thought to the temperature of their homes when it comes to comfort, and that makes sense. Insufficient climate control, especially during the summer and winter months, can have a pretty big impact on your quality of life. However, the temperature of a home's air is only part of what makes your indoor air quality good or bad. The humidity levels in your home play a big part in not only your comfort, but your health as well. Let's take a look at what happens when your humidity levels are too high, and what to do about it.

The Problem with High Humidity

Your body is mostly water, and as such it relies on a certain amount of moisture in the air in order to work properly. For example, your body sweats to cool itself because when sweat evaporates it takes thermal energy with it. The higher the humidity levels in the air, the higher the evaporation point of liquids like sweat. That means it needs to be warmer before your body can cool itself, which is why humid days always seem warmer than dry ones. That's not the only issue with high humidity, though.

Mold is a common problem in homes, needing only two things to thrive: moisture and darkness. Chronically humid air tends to promote mold growth in dark areas of the home, like underneath sinks and inside the walls. Breathing in mold spores over a long period of time can have serious negative health effects, which is why you should do something to control the humidity levels in your home.

Dehumidifiers

A dehumidifier is a system designed to remove excess humidity from your home's air, either by evaporating refrigerant or using desiccants. Talk to a professional about which dehumidifier would meet your needs best. A dehumidifier can dramatically improve your home's indoor air quality, helping to keep you healthy and comfortable.

American Heating & Cooling provides dehumidifier services in Paintsville, KY.