Humidity in the Mid-South during the summer months is brutal and it can put a serious strain on your HVAC systems.
The levels of relative humidity in the air can affect the level of comfort in your environment as well as the proper functioning of your heating and air conditioning units.
Suppose the humidity is consistently higher than recommended levels. In that case, excess moisture can foster mold growth, which leads to various problems, from health issues to structural damage in your building. Low, unhealthy humidity levels can cause itching and dryness.
Simple solutions can help you manage the ideal indoor humidity levels in your building. Managing humidity should be a priority for every business owner, especially when tailoring your heating and cooling preferences to meet the need of your business and the comfort of your employees.
What’s the best humidity level for your environment?
During the summer months, the average humidity should weigh in between 45-50%. That’s no small task during a Mid-South Summer.
In other words, the right humidity levels help your building to feel cool in the summer.
If levels are not properly maintained, your building will not only feel very uncomfortable to work in, but you and your employees may also become susceptible to respiratory disorders or chemical reactions.
Additionally, improper humidity levels can also cause damage to both the inside and outside of your building.
Removing unwanted moisture in your building is one of the primary functions of your building’s HVAC systems.
The ideal temperature in your building will be specific to your preferences and the needs of all equipment housed within the building. Maintaining recommended humidity levels at different times of the year will ensure your comfort, safety, and proper conditions for sensitive equipment.
How to Manage Humidity Levels Through the Summer
Tips for a comfortable summer:
- Discontinue the use of humidifiers
- Use air conditioning to remove moisture indoors
- Use exhaust fans
HVAC Humidity Problems and Solutions
When we think of cooling or heating our businesses, we usually think about the temperature setting and give little thought to how humidity levels make the temperature feel.
If your air conditioning system is working efficiently, it will remove the proper amount of heat and moisture from your building, which results in the comfortable environment you and your employees need.
If not, it will become hard to achieve the comfort level you desire, regardless of the temperature setting.
When humidity is high, it makes sense that A/C systems have to work harder to keep the building cool. If you’re dealing with an older, inefficient, or improperly sized system, it may not be able to handle the job. If your HVAC systems are reaching the desired temperature, but it still feels uncomfortable, your system may not be removing enough humidity.
What’s more, the system will be working longer and harder without providing the desired result. This adds wear to the unit and can result in higher utility bills.
If your HVAC systems are not getting the results you want, you can safely assume that excess moisture in the air is one of the problems.
Signs of excess humidity are:
- The air in your building feels moist
- There is a damp or musty smell in parts of your building
- Your windows are foggy
One or more of these factors suggests there could be too much humidity present, and you should have an HVAC professional evaluate the efficiency of your systems.
When humidity levels are managed in the summer months, A/C systems can perform more effectively. The benefits will be added comfort and more energy efficiency. Any unpleasant effects of high humidity will be reduced as well.