High humidity can be as much of a detriment to your comfort levels as high temperatures. When too much moisture is in the air – more than about 50% or so – it interferes with our body’s natural ability to cool off. When we get hot, we sweat, and as the sweat evaporates into the air it cools off our skin. But high humidity means that the sweat won’t evaporate – there’s too much moisture in the air already – and that all-important natural cooling power is lost. The good news is that a whole-house dehumidifier can remove excess humidity in your home, and help improve your comfort levels immeasurably. Utilizing a whole house dehumidifier in Navarre, FL is an extremely good idea considering how humid our Florida summers get. But how does a dehumidifier work? Read on for the answers.
In principle, a dehumidifier isn’t all that different from an air conditioner. Both systems circulate refrigerant gas, using the gas’s cooling ability to do its job. With the dehumidifier, a fan compressor will compress the gas, then move it into a series of cooling coils, where it expands. As it does so, it pulls heat out of the nearby air. As the air cools, the moisture in it solidifies and becomes condensation. (You can see this effect in nature with the formation of dew in the early morning.) A large reservoir collects the condensation while a reheater collects the excessive heat creates by the fan compressor. A blower moves air from the house into and out of the dehumidifier. In this way, the air in the entire house is treated for excess moisture.
Your air conditioner does the same thing by default, and indeed most AC units have at least a small drain pan for disposing of moisture pulled out of the air. But too much moisture can overwhelm your AC unit, and in any case the act pulls energy away from its primary job of cooling the air. A whole house dehumidifier in Navarre (and other steamy Florida towns) really is the answer, and the experts at Kool Breeze can help you install one. We understand how dehumidifiers work and we can advise you on the best possible option for your home. Give us a call today to set up an appointment!