We’re living in a wonderful day and age that finds today’s homeowners enjoying many privileges and perks thanks to science and technological advancements. One of the most appreciated of these is the ability to control and regulate indoor environments to our liking.
Thanks to today’s heating units as well as air conditioners, we are able to fine-tune our indoor climate to our liking. In fact, when it comes to air conditioning units in particular, you get a double benefit from owning and maintaining a unit in your home.
Not only do air conditioning units help to lower high temperatures and make them bearable during the warmer summer months, but they also work to remove uncomfortable humidity from the air as well. Keeping humidity levels low is beneficial not only for comfort reasons, but health reasons as well. Let’s take a closer look at how you’re A/C unit accomplishes this phenomenal feat.
How Air Conditioners Combat Humidity
Although not every air conditioning unit under the sun is made to regulate humidity, the great majority of them are. Dehumidifying is often a part of the process of regulating the air in a given space, as it naturally goes hand in hand with cooling.
The secret to dehumidification is the unit’s evaporator coil. The evaporator coil works to condense water vapor from the air the unit processes in much the same way water condenses on the outside of a cold drinking glass. Once the moisture is collected from the air in this manner, it is sent to a built-in drain apparatus. From there, it’s vented to the outside, away from the inner environment it came from. The result is a living space filled with air that is much more pleasant, especially if a given family is dealing with incredibly hot temperatures in addition to humidity.
Why Dry Air Provides Better Comfort
When the human body heats up, it finds relief in the evaporation of perspiration from the surface of the skin. The more humid a given environment is, the harder it is for this natural process to complete itself. The drier the air, the more conducive the environment for nature’s own built-in cooling system.
Today’s comfort air conditioners are designed to facilitate a 40-60% relative humidity level in a given space. This is the range that most people consider to be ideal in regards to indoor environments, so make sure the unit you’re considering is capable of maintaining these levels for the best value.