Most people in Daniel Island, SC, know the combination of high humidity and high heat adds to discomfort. However, not everyone knows high humidity also results in higher cooling costs. Here’s an explanation of how high humidity causes higher cooling bills.
Humidity Affects Perceived Temperature
On humid days, it’s normal to feel like it’s hotter outside. That’s why the weather service publishes a heat index, so we’re better prepared for the conditions outside. For that same reason, high humidity means you need to set your thermostat at a lower temperature to feel comfortable in your home, leading to higher cooling bills.
Humidity Makes Your AC System Work Harder
Your air conditioning system removes humidity from your indoor air as part of the cooling process. So, the higher the humidity of the air, the harder your AC system has to work to cool it. This means your AC system will have to run for longer on humid days to bring down the temperature inside your home.
High Humidity Demands the Right Size AC System
The size of your home’s AC system will also determine if your energy bills will rise during humid conditions. If your system’s too large for your home, it won’t turn on for long enough to remove the humidity. This leaves you feeling hotter than you should and forces you to lower the thermostat.
But if your AC system’s too small, it’ll run continuously as it tries to remove the moisture and cool the space. This also leads to higher operating costs.
The bottom line is that humidity plays a big role in your home’s cooling costs. To combat it, your home might benefit from the installation of additional ventilation and/or a dehumidifier.
If you want to improve your indoor comfort and control humidity, contact Carolina Custom Air today. We’ll get you on your way to lower cooling costs right away.
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