Air conditioning (AC) offers much-needed relief from the heat, particularly in the summer. However, many people only consider temperature when evaluating their AC system's performance. In reality, humidity significantly affects how efficiently and effectively your AC unit operates.

How Humidity Affects AC

When you feel hot, it's not just the air temperature that makes you uncomfortable. It's often the combination of the temperature and high humidity, which refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. The higher the humidity, the more difficulty your body has cooling itself through sweat evaporation, making you feel hotter and stickier.

As your AC system works to cool the air, it also removes moisture. Here's a breakdown of how high humidity impacts your air conditioning:

  • Increased workload: To remove moisture, your AC system coil needs to cool the air below its dew point. When there's more moisture in the air, the system has to work harder and longer to condense that water vapor into liquid and drain it away. 
  • Reduced cooling capacity: A significant portion of your AC system's cooling capacity is dedicated to dehumidification. If the humidity is high, less of the system's capacity is available for actual temperature reduction. This means your home might feel warmer than the thermostat setting indicates, or it might take much longer to reach the desired temperature.
  • More wear: The increased workload can strain your AC's components, including the compressor, fan motor, and coils, potentially leading to premature wear and tear. Over time, it can increase the likelihood of breakdowns and shorten the overall lifespan of your unit.
  • Higher energy bills: Your AC system takes more time and has to run harder to achieve the same level of comfort when it's humid, directly impacting your monthly electricity consumption.

What to Do if Humidity Is Affecting Your Air Conditioning

While some humidity is always present, you can keep it in check with a properly sized and maintained AC unit. An undersized unit will struggle to keep up with temperature and humidity demands. An oversized unit might cool the air too quickly without adequately removing moisture, leading to a cold and clammy feeling. If either issue sounds familiar, have a technician examine your AC to determine whether you need a replacement. 

Regularly scheduling professional AC maintenance will also help keep your system running optimally. Maintenance includes checking refrigerant levels, cleaning coils, verifying proper drainage, and more.

restore comfort with one hour

Restore Your Comfort With One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®

At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®, we understand the connection between humidity and air conditioning. Our expert technicians are ready to help you mitigate the impact of humidity with timely service. If your current system is insufficient, we'll recommend and install the right AC system for optimal comfort and efficiency. We even offer flexible financing options to help you get the solution you need now on a budget. 

Besides professional AC installation, we provide comprehensive maintenance to keep your system performing at its best, even on the most humid days. Book an appointment today for AC services that provide a cooler, drier, and more comfortable home.