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When it gets too humid outside, many people opt for the comfort of their homes and air conditioning systems. Unfortunately, the outside humidity can creep into your home without the proper AC unit and usage. Not only is the humidity uncomfortable, but it can also have negative effects on your system and home.

So, does outside humidity affect air conditioning?

Knowing how to care for your home and equipment can save you stress and money in the future and reduce the need for repairs or emergency services. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff at BVS Home Experts can answer your questions and keep your home cool and comfortable year-round with our available heating and air conditioning services in Katy.

Signs of Humidity Inside

Identifying humidity in the air indoors and scheduling repairs or maintenance immediately can keep the problem from spreading and becoming uncomfortable. You can also look out for different kinds of humidity and consider the effects to determine the conditions in your home and the best steps you can take to maintain your system. While you may feel the humidity right away, you can also look for these signs of humid air in your home:

Foggy windows: Humidity forms as moisture and condensation in the air, which can accumulate on surfaces and cause foggy windows.
Musty smell: Significant levels of humidity in the air leaves your home and surfaces moist, which can cause some rooms or materials to smell musty and create an unpleasant atmosphere.
High energy bills: When your air conditioner works overtime to fight humidity and maintain cool temperatures, it takes more power and may cause an increase in your energy bills.
Moist or clammy air: Sitting in your home and experiencing damp air or clammy feeling skin and surfaces indicates a high humidity level.

Causes of Humidity with Air Conditioning

A properly operating air conditioner can counteract and reduce moisture in the air, even on the most humid days. Experiencing high indoor humidity levels can indicate an issue with your unit that calls for repairs or replacement. The most common reasons that outside humidity affects your air conditioning may include:

Oversized units: Having an AC unit that produces more power than necessary can cause irregular temperature control, as the compressor cycles on and off too often and doesn’t run enough to reduce the air moisture.
Single-speed AC system: A single-speed system also cycles on and off too quickly, making it difficult for the unit to capture and remove humidity throughout your home.
Negative air pressure: Poorly designed ventilation systems cause negative air pressure, meaning the ducts vent out too much air. This causes the system to draw in and circulate outdoor air and bring the humidity in with it.
Running the fan constantly: Having your AC fan blowing all day may feel like it circulates and cools the air, but it actually puts any moisture that the air conditioner collected back into the air.
Old units: Sometimes, you may just need a new unit. An old and damaged unit runs less efficiently and may not have the power to fight and remove humidity.

Reducing Humidity with Your Air Conditioner

Luckily, taking action to repair, replace, or upgrade your air conditioning unit can easily remove the humidity from the indoor environment. Consider these options to reduce humidity inside your home and remain comfortable throughout the summer and heat:

Unit replacements: If you have an old, oversized, or one-speed unit, having it replaced with a more effective unit that works for your space can make all the difference and reduce the humidity in your home.
System repairs: Repairing damaged and malfunctioning components in your AC unit ensures it runs efficiently to supply cool air and remove humidity.
Maintenance services: Regular and preventative maintenance for your cooling system, such as filter changes and inspection, provide it with the tools and power to continue keeping your home cool and dry.
Dehumidifier installation: Sometimes, your AC unit just needs the help of a dehumidifier. Installing and attaching a dehumidifier to your air conditioner can help the unit remove moisture from the air and can also protect the components of your unit from excess water damage and wear.

How Humidity Affects Your Air Conditioner

So, does outside humidity affect air conditioning?

The humidity may feel uncomfortable for you, but it also affects your air conditioning unit. Allowing high levels of humidity in your home can cause your air conditioning system to experience the following issues:

Wear and tear: The moisture and heat from excessive humidity in your AC unit can cause water damage, swelling, or shorts in the internal components and contributes to greater wear on the equipment.
Increased energy usage: When it takes extra power to cool your home or gather moisture, the increased energy usage can wear on the components and cause damage in addition to increasing your electric bills and carbon footprint.
Reduced air quality: Humidity in and around your AC unit provides a suitable environment for algae and mold to grow. Having these spores in your home and air conditioner can pose health risks and reduce the air quality in your home.

Air Conditioning Services from BVS Home Experts

Keeping your cool in the summer requires an effective air conditioner that can battle heat and humidity with ease. Our team at BVS Home Experts can identify and remedy issues with your air conditioning unit to ensure proper function, maximum comfort, and protection for your home.

So how does outside humidity affect air conditioning? It can make your home uncomfortable and clammy, and high humidity harms your home and air conditioning unit. Howe can call a BVS technician to reduce the humidity and perform the necessary repairs to address the root of the problem.

Contact our team at BVS Home Experts in Katy, TX, at 281-391-1510 to get the most from your air conditioner with expert repairs, maintenance, and diagnostics.

Author Bio:

Ronald Via

Ronald is one of the key contributors to BVS Home Experts, a family-owned and operated full-service air conditioning and heating company serving the Katy and West Houston areas. With a deep understanding of air conditioning and heating concerns, Ronald brings a wealth of knowledge to our readers.