Most people associate air conditioning with cooling, and while the A/C is a powerhouse at eliminating excess heat, this isn’t all it does. It also eliminates a notable amount of humidity from the air. This is why a properly air-conditioned space doesn’t feel cold and clammy.
How Does Air Conditioning Remove Humidity?
Dehumidification is a side-effect of an air conditioner’s normal operation. As warm air is blown over the cooling coils, moisture condenses onto the coils and then falls into the drainage pan (sometimes referred to as the condensate pan) below. This moisture comes from the humidity that was in the warmer air. Once it has become water in the pan, it will be drained outside if everything is working properly.
Do You Still Need a Dehumidifier if You’re Running Your A/C?
The answer to this depends on a few key factors. Your local weather is one of the primary ones. If it has been raining constantly for days, you may find that you’re more comfortable if you run a dehumidifier along with your air conditioning. This is especially true in climates that are generally wet during the summer.
Another factor is microclimate. In this case, the microclimate in question is inside your house instead of around it. You may need a dehumidifier in your basement, bathroom, or Jacuzzi area in order to keep the room comfortably dry. If you see mold cropping up in other rooms, they may not be getting sufficiently dehumidified by your air conditioner either.
What if Your Air Conditioner No Longer Dehumidifies Like it Used To?
You will usually notice this by a cold, clammy feeling inside the house or building. This feeling means that your A/C is still cooling well, but is no longer dehumidifying properly. One cause of this is a clogged drainage system. When it’s clogged, water has nowhere to go but back into the air, and your house becomes uncomfortably moist.
Sometimes, you’ll find that your A/C unit is performing in a lackluster way all around. The air won’t get either cold enough or dry enough. This can be caused by a number of things, but one of the most common ones is a coolant leak. As coolant pressure drops, the unit simply can’t keep up with the demands of its job.
Get Your Air Conditioner Back Up to Snuff
If your air conditioner is leaving you with air that is either clammy or muggy, contact All Seasons. We’ll get it working properly in no time. We have the best technicians in Tacoma and our products are exceptional!
