It's a comfortable 78 degrees in your home. So why does it feel more like 85? It's the humidity. More moisture in the air makes the temperature feel higher than it actually is. So how does this "feels likeandquot; temperature affect your heating and cooling habits? Let's take a look.
Humidity and HVAC
Humidity is generally higher in summer, when the temperature is already uncomfortably warm. Fortunately, your A/C, in addition to cooling the air, also dehumidifies it, keeping the "feels likeandquot; temperature closer to the real one.
When the humidity gets really high, though, your HVAC unit might not have enough capacity for the job. As a result, the air in your home, along with your skin, can feel clammy. The extra humidity can also fog up your windows, and cause a musty odor around the house.
Not only are these conditions unpleasant, they can cause your system to waste energy and wear out more quickly. If the humidity is too high, even when your HVAC system cools your home, the "feels likeandquot; temperature will be significantly warmer. So you lower the thermostat further, causing your system to run longer and work harder to make you comfortable.
Conversely, winter generally has the opposite problem. Humidity is low, and the furnace dehumidifies things even further. When that happens, the temperature feels cooler than it actually is, causing you to crank up the thermostat, again wasting energy.
Humidity Control
In order to bring the "feels likeandquot; temperature closer to the real temperature, you need to regulate humidity in your home. The solution is a whole-house humidifier and dehumidifier. Both can work in conjunction with your HVAC system, allowing you to control the humidity in your home. As a result, your house will feel more comfortable, and your furnace and A/C will be able to do their jobs more efficiently, saving you money and energy.
To learn more about the effects of humidity and the "feels likeandquot; temperature, contact Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical. Visit our website for in-depth information on most HVAC topics, or just give us a call at (408) 868-5500.
Our goal is to help educate our customers inthe South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas of Californiaabout energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).