Dehumidifying a room using an air conditioner is achievable. And you might also be wondering how to do it and how much humidity the AC can remove. Very well, let us look into our thoroughly researched answers for this matter.
Do you see the 'dry mode' on your air conditioning unit? That is the setting that will help you dehumidify a room using only an air conditioner.
Please read on if you want more explanation and information about dehumidification using an air conditioner. We have so many details to share with you. Let's delve into the details!
Dehumidify Your Room Using Air Conditioner
Many homeowners still don't know their air conditioners completely. Most know that it only operates to cool a room. Little did you know, it could work as a dehumidifier! Although it doesn't give what an exact dehumidifier can, at least you will find it helpful, especially when you need it most and when you want to conserve energy consumption.
What Is Dry Mode?
'Dry mode' is a function of an air conditioning unit that you can use during rainy days. The moisture level is so high that you want to dehumidify a room in the rainy season. And this is where 'dry mode' will help by keeping the room atmosphere dry and cool.
The dry mode of your air conditioner will act as a dehumidifier by getting rid of the existing moisture from the indoor air. Plus, it refreshes the air in a humid room.
Suppose you want to maximize the dehumidification capacity of your air conditioning unit during the dry function. In that case, you can let the air conditioner operate at a low or high temperature than the set temperature.
Use An Air Conditioner Without Cooling The Home
Aside from operating the 'dry mode' of your air conditioning unit to dehumidify a room, there is still another option for how you can do it.
Instead of utilizing the cooling option in the autumn and spring, set the temperature between 35 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the present comfortable temperature. You can successfully dry the air without cooling it if you incorporate this with a low fan speed.
Moreover, you must set the thermostat's fan setting to 'Auto' rather than 'On.' Doing so will allow your air conditioner to run the fan only when it needs to keep the indoor air temperature at the desired level.
Lastly, it will allow the condensation that builds on the evaporator coil to drain correctly. When the air conditioner is on, condensation blows back into circulation, generating constant humidity and making the indoor air feel moist.
Why Humidity Is A Problem?
Let us look at some of the primary reasons humidity is such a concern.
Your home will have excess humidity if it is not correctly insulated, has proper ventilation, or is weather-sealed. Excess moisture might make your indoors feel much hotter than it is. In addition, it can not only harm the structure of your home and influence your and your family's soundness, but it can also promote mold growth.
Why Is Moisture Removal Necessary For Cooling?
Because humidity carries heat, your air conditioning unit will have to work harder to remove it if too much is within your home. And if it is indeed too much, your air conditioner may not be able to completely get rid of the moisture. That said, it will make your indoor air feel cool but sticky.
Improve Air Conditioner's Ability to Remove Humidity
If you feel that your air conditioning is struggling to keep your home comfortable, it could be because it is not removing as much humidity as you want. But you don't have to worry about that since there are several ways to help your air conditioning unit remove more humidity, and they are:
1. Keep your coil clean
When the evaporator coil of your air conditioner has too much dust and dirt accumulation, it will indeed struggle to remove all the heat and humidity in your home. And even if it is not that dirty, know that it can still hugely affect the removal of the indoor moisture.
And to solve it, you can clean or change the coil as per the manufacturer's advice.
2. Adjust the fan speed
You want your air conditioning unit to circulate air at or around 350 CFM per ton, especially if you are in a hot and humid area. Many air conditioning systems designs flow air at a faster rate. However, a more rapid rate is not suitable for removing humidity.
For instance, your air conditioning system circulates air around 400 CFM per ton. The air conditioner will be able to remove sufficient heat indoors to meet the thermostat setting you want. But the real deal is that it can remove adequate humidity from your home.
Indeed, at 400 CFM, your air conditioning unit can cool your home pretty fast. And with an air conditioner that circulates air at a rate of 350 CFM per ton, the reduced airflow permits the indoor coil to become colder. It can eliminate more moisture while also satisfying your thermostat setting when colder.
In addition, a variable speed air conditioner will automatically address this problem.
3. Add a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV)
Adding a thermostatic expansion valve helps your air conditioner get rid of increased humidity during a conveyed cycle. And that is by utilizing more of the evaporator coil.
If you wonder what it looks like when you install a TXV, you'll be attaching a bulb to the refrigerant line. The bulb will open and close necessarily to optimize the surface area of the indoor coil that will be of use at any given temperature. And to make it more precise, a thermostatic expansion valve enhances the capability of your indoor coil to get rid of humidity and heat.
4. Check the air conditioner's refrigerant charge
If the air conditioner's refrigerant charge is too low, the unit itself will have difficulty removing adequate heat and humidity from your home. And this issue could eventually worsen and will result in freezing the coil or perhaps compressor failure.
Read more about: "Why is My AC Condenser Freezing?"
5. HVAC system sizing
Having the wrong size air conditioner is one of the most typical problems in the industry. Air conditioning units that are too big for the size of your home don't always operate long enough to remove humidity from your home adequately.
6. Seal all the existing air leaks
When you properly seal all the air leaks and insulate your entire home correctly and sufficiently, it will keep the humidity and temperature at appropriate levels while lowering your energy usage. The more you improve the insulation and cover more air leaks, the lower humidity levels will be present or enter your home. You should pay more attention to your attic and crawlspace when sealing as these areas typically lose the most heat.
7. Add a dehumidifier for the entire house
If you have already tried everything we have mentioned and nothing still meets your desired dehumidification and still feel sticky and uncomfortable, adding a whole-house dehumidifier will significantly help. These devices will serve as a supplementary dehumidifier when your air conditioning unit cannot remove adequate moisture by itself.
You can utilize it to remarkably reduce the humidity in the air. Dehumidifiers are just like air conditioners in that they collect moisture rather than heat. And running one in conjunction with your air conditioner might make your home seem 11 degrees colder.
Finally, it is all about comfort when it comes to humidity control. All you will need to do is make your current air conditioning unit remove enough humidity to keep you comfortable as much as possible. And if you are still having trouble after trying all the things we recommend, know that you have further alternatives.
Read more about: "Can You Have A Whole House Dehumidifier Without Ducts?"
Check out this Midea dehumidifier on Amazon.
Wrap It All Up
It is impressive that an air conditioner can serve as a dehumidifier, too. And now that you already know how to use it as a dehumidifier, we are sure that you will try it immediately. It would always be best to know your appliances better. Doing such will help you make the most out of them.
We hope you find this article helpful. And if you want to read more, you are always free to browse our website, or you might want to check these posts out!
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