Not only is humid air extremely uncomfortable during a Marietta, GA summer, humid air is also a trigger for asthma symptoms. You may be wondering if you can use your AC to dehumidify and alleviate some of those asthma symptoms. The answer is yes, but it may not be enough.

Air Conditioners Can Dehumidify

Yes, air conditioners have the capacity to remove humidity from the air, but they can only do so much. When your AC is running, it passes air over its coils. These coils cool the air, which separates the moisture from the air. As the cooled air is piped into your house, the moisture collects in the AC and drains out.

However, several factors affect your AC’s ability to dehumidify, and even the perfect AC may not be able to combat the extreme humidity that comes with a hot Georgia summer. If your AC is too small, it won’t be able to adequately dehumidify all the air in the room. If your AC is too large, it’ll cool the air very quickly and then turn off, which means, once again, it doesn’t dehumidify all the air in the room. Your AC’s filters also affect how much air can flow in and out of your AC. If they’re old and dirty, enough air may not pass through the AC for adequate dehumidification.

An Additional Dehumidifier May Be Necessary

Humid air is especially hard on asthma sufferers. If your filters are clean and your AC is the right size, but you’re still having humidity problems that are triggering asthma, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier. Select one that is meant for the whole house so you can control the humidity in every room. As a bonus, a dehumidifier will help your AC run more efficiently and you’ll save a little on energy bills.

To find out more about your home’s humidity levels, ask the experts at E. Smith Heating & Air Conditioning by calling (678) 369-8866.

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