You know the feeling. You walk in from the garage on a blistering July afternoon here in Sarasota. The cool air of your home hits you, but something feels… off. The thermostat reads a comfortable 70°F, yet you still feel sticky, damp, and just not truly comfortable. If this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it. Your home’s real comfort problem isn’t the heat—it’s the humidity.
Fight Florida’s Humidity!
At D&D Air, we understand that tackling our region’s oppressive humidity is the key to creating a truly comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
More Than Just ‘Sticky’: The Real Problems with High Indoor Humidity
When your home’s humidity level is too high (ideally, it should be between 45-55%), it causes more than just discomfort. It creates a host of other issues:
Health Concerns
High humidity is the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, and dust mites. For family members with allergies or asthma, this can significantly worsen their symptoms and overall respiratory health.
Home Damage
That excess moisture in the air can be absorbed by porous materials in your house, leading to musty odors, warped wood floors and cabinets, peeling paint, and even potential damage to sensitive electronics over time.
Higher Energy Bills
When the air feels sticky, our natural instinct is to lower the thermostat a few more degrees to try to compensate. This makes your AC work harder and longer, driving up your FPL bill without ever solving the core problem.
“But Isn’t My AC Supposed to Dehumidify?”
This is the most common question we hear, and the answer is: “Yes, but it’s complicated.”
An air conditioner dehumidifies by passing warm, moist indoor air over its cold evaporator coil. The moisture condenses on the coil and is drained away. However, for this process to be effective, the system needs to run for a consistent period of time.
Here in Florida, a common issue is an “oversized” AC unit. A system that is too powerful for the space will blast cold air, satisfy the thermostat’s temperature setting very quickly, and then shut off. This is called “short-cycling.” While it makes the room cold, it doesn’t run long enough to pull a significant amount of moisture from the air, leaving you with that cool but clammy feeling.
Winning the Battle: How to Achieve True Home Comfort
Controlling humidity requires a smarter approach than just lowering the temperature.
- Start with Proper Maintenance: A system with dirty coils and clogged filters will have poor airflow, drastically reducing its ability to dehumidify. A professional tune-up is the first step toward better performance.
- Insist on “Right-Sized” Equipment: If you’re replacing your system, it’s critical that your HVAC contractor performs a proper “load calculation” to determine the exact size your home needs. At D&D Air, we never guess; we measure and calculate to ensure your new system provides maximum efficiency and dehumidification.
- Consider a Whole-Home Dehumidifier: This is the ultimate solution for our climate. A whole-home dehumidifier integrates with your existing HVAC system to give you independent control over your home’s humidity. It can remove moisture even when the AC isn’t actively cooling, ensuring your home is always comfortable and healthy.
We Can Help Your Home Achieve True Comfort
In Sarasota, the fight for comfort is a two-front battle against both heat and humidity. Don’t settle for a home that’s cool but still feels damp.
If you’re tired of that sticky feeling, or if you’re concerned about your home’s air quality, give the local experts a call. We can assess your home’s specific needs and recommend the right solution for you.
Contact D&D Air today at 941-297-0089 for a no-obligation consultation.
