Living in south Florida, particularly Martin and St. Lucie Counties, has its benefits. However, the high humidity our area is known for is not one of them. Because we live in a tropical climate, some days just stepping outside feels like stepping into a shower or steam room. And unfortunately, the humidity doesn’t always stay outside. Below are some effects of higher humidity indoors.
Effects of High Humidity
As we all know, days that have more humidity feel warmer than less humid days. This is because your body actually has a more difficult time cooling off when there is more moisture in the air. Basically, the amount of moisture in the air is directly related to the evaporation point of liquid—meaning the more moisture, the higher evaporation point. Included as part of this evaporation process is sweat, your body’s natural way of reducing heat and cooling you down. The longer it takes your sweat to evaporate, the harder it is for you to cool down, ultimately making it feel warmer.
In addition, a more important issue associated with high humidity is that the moisture encourages the growth and spreading of mold indoors and within the AC system itself, which has the potential to negatively affect your health. Luckily, this is a problem that is fairly easy to correct.
Reduce Humidity and its Effects
One of the best ways to prevent indoor humidity from getting too high is the installation of a dehumidifier, which has the sole purpose of removing humidity from the air and increasing the quality of the air inside your home. If you aren’t quite ready to install a whole-home dehumidifier, there are other options to try first.
Using your AC system has the added benefit of reducing the humidity indoors. Also, better ventilating your room, using room fans, and regularly replacing your air conditioning and heating system filters all help reduce humidity in the air. In addition, if you’re worried about mold and other pollutants, consider other supplementary methods for purifying the air.
If you are considering installing a dehumidifier in your home or business, call the professionals at American Air Cares.
