Consequences of relative humidity rising over 60 percent and above are the air feeling stale, your hair getting frizzy, and feeling hotter than it really is. That’s because more humidity in the air means your sweat is not evaporating as fast as it usually does. In other words, your body’s natural “air conditioner” starts to break down.

High humidity also has other, more serious side effects, from causing sleeping problems, to turning on the open sign welcoming various molds, harmful bacteria and dust mites. Molds are not just an eyesore. The release of mold spores into the air you breathe can trigger allergies, asthma attacks, irritate your eyes, nose or throat and bring on a whole bunch of other respiratory problems. This can be especially dangerous if you have existing respiratory conditions.

Properly Sized Heating and Air Conditioning

 If you are experiencing any of the conditions or symptoms described above, you may have a heating and air conditioning system that is “oversized” for your home. This means the system comes on, satisfies the temperature inside the home and then shuts off. Sounds like its working great!! Truth is, the temperature in the house has nothing to do with the humidity that is present. An air conditioner system must come on and run for an extended period to allow for the proper humidity control to be achieved. Properly sizing your air conditioner is crucial to providing a safe, healthy and comfortable environment for you and your family. Make sure that your contractor provides you with a Manual J-based load calculation specific for your home. 

Please remember, no one should ever ask you for the square footage of your home or be able to provide you a quote over the phone. The system you have now may not be correct for your home. A true home evaluation should take approximately two hours to complete. Allowing this time will be your best assurance in having a heating and air conditioning system installed that will improve the quality of the air in your home, provide a comfortable environment for you and your family, and possibly reduce your monthly utility costs.

Does this sound like something that is needed for your house? If so, give O’Brien Service Company a call today to discuss more information.

Jimmy Williams has owned and operated O'Brien Service Company for more than 30 years. Our highly trained and versatile technicians can expertly handle complex repairs, installations, and advise you on the benefits of regular maintenance. O'Brien will work on both residential and commercial systems, and is a certified Trane Specialist. Call today to have your system serviced, or to have a free at home estimate. You can contact us by calling (910) 799-6611, or visit our website at www.obrienservice.com.