What Should the Humidity be in My House with Air Conditioning?

Keeping your house at the right humidity level during summer doesn’t just keep you comfortable. It also helps keep you and your indoor air healthy and may even help you lower your cooling bill, since you’ll feel cooler at a more energy-efficient temperature.

Although your own preferences may vary, Mayo Clinic recommends no higher than 50% for home humidity levels. And here’s why.

6 Symptoms of High Humidity in Your Home

Humidity that’s too high or too low can cause problems. Summers in the Irving area are notoriously sticky, and letting your home’s humidity climb too high can cause problems like:

1. Mold growth, especially in bathrooms. Mold is hazardous to your health and can worsen allergy and asthma symptoms. It can also cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation.
2. Condensation on windows, walls or the ceiling. Excess condensation can lead to wooden window frames rotting and promote mold growth.
3. Water stains on walls or the ceiling. High humidity can discolor and damage your walls and ceiling.
4. Musty smells. If the humidity is too high indoors and your home smells musty, there’s a good chance you are dealing with mold or mildew growth.
5. Clammy air. When your home’s air is holding too much moisture, it may feel hotter than it really is.
6. Pests in your home. Too much moisture indoors can attract pests like ants or cockroaches.

Recognize some of these problems in your home? Here’s what might be causing them.

Common Causes of High Humidity in Your House

Dealing with high humidity in a house with air conditioning? Your air conditioner is often the culprit, or it could be another issue. Here are some of the most common ones we see.

• Your air conditioner is getting old. With proper maintenance, your air conditioner can last 15–20 years or even longer. But as your air conditioner ages, it’s normal for it to become less efficient. In fact, the S. Department of Energy says replacing one that’s only 10 years old could save you 20–40% on cooling costs.
• Your air conditioner is too big or too small for your home. An improperly sized air conditioner can cause a lot of problems. One that’s too big can result in temperature swings and hot and cold spots. One that’s too small might frequently turn on and off to keep your home cool and wear out faster in the process. When you’re selecting a heating and cooling company for air conditioning installation in Irving, TX, and surrounding areas, look for one like Diamond Blue Air that stands behind their work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure to read customer reviews.
• You’ve skipped air conditioning maintenance. Like any other machine, your cooling system also needs routine air conditioning maintenance. This service keeps your air conditioner clean, running efficiently and may even help it last longer. It also keeps your warranty valid and gives our professionals a chance to spot and correct minor problems that could cause major failures down the road.
• Your home has poor ventilation. When it comes to high humidity, bathrooms can be one of the biggest offenders. Make sure to run the fan during and after showering to remove humid air. You can also install a fan that will automatically run if it detects high humidity levels during the day.

Does Air Conditioning Reduce Humidity?

Running your air conditioner is an effective way to control humidity, because the cooling process removes moisture from the air. But it’s also expensive. Setting your air conditioning at a low temperature or running it constantly will drive up your energy bill.

Here are a few energy-efficient ways to control humidity in your home:

1. Start using a dehumidifier. These include portable models or a whole-house dehumidifier, which we install directly into your HVAC system. When purchasing a dehumidifier, look for one that’s ENERGY STAR® certified to help you save on electricity costs.
2. Upgrade your bathroom fans. As we mentioned before, you can install a bathroom fan that turns on automatically when it senses the humidity is too high.
3. Install a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats make it easy to stay on top of your home’s humidity levels and make adjustments as needed. That’s because they automatically measure humidity in your home.
4. Upgrade your air conditioner. If your air conditioner is unreliable or is getting old, consider getting a new one. We can install a variable-speed air conditioner from Lennox® or American Standard®. Instead of running at full blast all the time, these air conditioners run at multiple speeds to keep you more comfortable and to keep energy costs low. Not to mention, many models include enhanced humidity control features.

When it comes to ideal home humidity, count on our Diamond Blue professionals to keep you cool and comfortable. We back our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.* Call us at 469-200-3100 to get started with finding the best humidity level for your home today.