How Florida’s Humid Climate Impacts Indoor Air Quality
Florida is a peninsula that experiences a fair bit of warm water currents from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It also sits closer to the equator than most other states. These two factors are partly responsible for making the indoor air in the average Florida home exceptionally humid. It further explains why the air quality in many of these homes ranks as poor.
What Constitutes High Humidity?
Relative humidity (RH) refers to the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum it can hold at a given temperature. High humidity is anything above 50% RH. In Florida, especially in coastal areas, like Melbourne, for example, the relative humidity is around 74.5%
How High Humidity Can Lead to Poor Indoor Air Quality and Structural Damage
Even slightly elevated humidity levels can cause wood to warp, paint to peel, and drywall in a home to degrade. Humidity levels above 60% creates conditions that stimulate dust mites and facilitate mold and mildew growth, all of which can degrade air quality and expose a home’s occupants to respiratory issues. High humidity can also trigger a phenomenon known as volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing, the release of volatile organic compounds into the air. Prolonged exposure to VOCs can cause the following:
- Anxiety
- Certain cancers
- Dehydration
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Eye and throat irritation
- Fatigue and weakness
- Headaches
- Hyperthermia
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Irritability and agitation
- Liver and kidney damage
- Low energy
- Nausea and dizziness
- Skin Irritation
Signs of High Humidity
Along with visible mold and mildew growth, signs of high humidity that often lead to poor indoor air quality include condensation on windows and vents, damp carpet, and water stains on walls and ceilings. Musty odors, higher-than-usual energy bills, and frequent HVAC system malfunctions are also common telltale signs.
Common Causes of High Humidity and Poor Indoor Air Quality: Non-Weather Culprits
While Florida’s naturally humid climate is the primary cause of high indoor humidity and poor air quality, it is not the only one. Other common contributors include the following:
- Poor ventilation – Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms in homes are highly prone to excess moisture. If not well-ventilated, any moisture that accumulates in these spaces has nowhere to go. Over time, that moisture leads to increased humidity in these areas and elsewhere.
- Leaky plumbing and water damage – If leaky pipes, faucets, or roofs go undetected and unresolved for too long, excess moisture can quickly get into a home. And when it does, it can create an environment that is conducive to high humidity.
- Poorly sealed doors and windows – In addition to air, gaps and cracks around windows and doors can allow outside air to enter a home. During warmer months, this infiltration of air can raise humidity levels.
- Excessive humidifier use – Humidifiers do a great job of adding moisture to dry air. That added moisture can help relieve dry skin, sinus congestion, respiratory issues, and make the overall indoor environment in a home more comfortable. Using a humidifier excessively, however, can add too much moisture to the air. That added moisture increases humidity and degrades indoor air quality.
Indoor Air Quality Solutions: Simple Ways To Reduce Humidity and Improve Indoor Air Quality
There are several ways to lower high humidity levels and maintain good indoor air quality. The first involves keeping humid outdoor air out of the home. A good way to do just that is to make sure all windows and doors have adequate weather stripping.
Opening windows when the weather is cooler and using exhaust fans or ceiling fans can also help. The same applies to the following:
- UV air purifiers – These air purifiers, also known as UV air filters, help improve air quality by using ultraviolet light (UV-C) to destroy bacteria, viruses, mold, and other airborne pathogens.
- Fixing plumbing leaks – Finding and repairing plumbing leaks is essential not only for preventing expensive water damage but also for maintaining reasonable humidity levels. And the lower the humidity, the better the air quality in the home will be.
- Moisture-absorbing products – Moisture and humidity can quickly accumulate in closets, pantries, and other small spaces within the home. Using Silica gel packs, desiccants, moisture-absorbing crystals, or bags of activated charcoal in these areas can help maintain comfortable humidity levels.
- Dehumidifiers – These appliances draw in humid air and remove moisture before releasing drier air back into the home.
How HVAC Systems Help Control Humidity and Improve Air Quality
HVAC systems play a crucial role in managing humidity and maintaining good air quality in a home. That’s because they use air conditioning to help dehumidify air during the summer and, in systems equipped with them, built-in humidifiers during winter to add humidity to the air, which prevents dryness.
They also use filtration, which traps dust and airborne allergens, and circulation to improve air quality. Of course, to reap these benefits, routine HVAC maintenance is a must.
What Does Routine HVAC System Maintenance Entail?
Routine maintenance for an HVAC system involves having a licensed technician perform a variety of tasks necessary to keep a home’s cooling and heating system operating at peak performance. Some of these tasks include the following:
- Checking and adjusting thermostat settings
- Checking and inspecting the condensate drain
- Checking refrigerant levels and making adjustments if necessary
- Checking the HVAC system’s controls for safe and proper operation
- Cleaning and adjusting blower components to ensure adequate system airflow
- Cleaning evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils
- Inspecting, cleaning, or changing air filters
- Lubricating moving parts
- Tightening any loose electrical connections and measuring voltage and current on motors
Hire a Licensed Melbourne, FL HVAC Technician Today
From warm, muggy outdoor air and poor ventilation to excessive humidifier use and everything in between, multiple things can contribute to high humidity and poor air quality in a home. Fortunately, there are several ways to combat such issues, one of which involves scheduling routine HVAC maintenance. To learn more or to schedule a service call, consider speaking with a Melbourne One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating HVAC expert today.