When you walk outside, the first aspect you probably comment on is the temperature. However, humidity plays just as important of a role in your comfort levels—both inside and out. In fact, fluctuations in airborne moisture could negatively impact your residential heating and cooling system. To learn why this happens and how you can prevent it, consider the following information.

How Does Humidity Affect Residential Heating & Cooling Systems Year-Round?

During the warmer months of the year, there’s naturally more moisture in the air. Luckily, your air conditioner is designed to extract excess water vapor from your indoor breathing supply. However, when humidity levels are extreme, the unit has to work harder than usual to remove it, decreasing the energy efficiency of your HVAC system as a whole. It may also leave your rooms feeling clammy and increase the risk of mold and mildew growth inside air vents and ducts.

When it’s cold outside, the humidity levels are lower, and your residential heating system only makes things worse. With less water vapor in the air, your rooms will feel even colder, forcing you to crank the heat higher. Your furnace or boiler will then direct dry heat throughout your home, making your sinuses, eyes, throat, and skin feel irritated or itchy.

How Can You Control the Humidity in Your House?

If you’re hoping to take the strain off of your residential heating and cooling systems, you’ll have to regulate the humidity throughout your house year-round. During the summer, you can extract moisture from the air with a dehumidifier, which condenses water vapor and holds it in a removable reservoir.

During the winter, you can add moisture to your breathing supply with a humidifier, which turns water into vapor. Adding these machines to your HVAC system will increase the efficiency of your system as a whole, so it lasts longer—without the need for repairs and replacements. It will also help you lower your electricity bill and enhance the well-being and comfort of your entire family.

Could your residential heating and cooling system benefit from repairs or maintenance services? Get in touch with Arc Electric Air Conditioning and Heating in Wilder, KY, today. They have over six decades of experience providing reliable electric and HVAC services to area businesses and families. With their 24/7 service, you can rest easy knowing your discomfort is only temporary. For more information on their work, visit their website, or call (859) 441-7161 for a complimentary in-home estimate.