Dealing With Summer Humidity in Richmond Hill Homes
A house can be 22°C and still feel uncomfortable if the air is damp. In Richmond Hill, with humid summers and lots of finished basements, it’s one of the most common complaints we hear in July and August.
Your AC is also a dehumidifier
When warm air passes over the cold indoor coil, moisture condenses and drains away. That only happens while the system is running, and it takes a few minutes of run time for the coil to get cold enough to pull water out efficiently.
Why some homes stay sticky
- Oversized AC: it cools the air quickly and shuts off before it removes much moisture. Cool but clammy is the classic sign.
- Fan set to “on”: with the fan running all the time, water sitting on the coil after the compressor stops gets blown back into the house. In humid weather, “auto” is usually better.
- High blower speed: too much airflow across the coil means less moisture removal. Many furnaces let us set a lower cooling speed.
- Basement moisture: foundations, sump pits and dryer vent leaks add a lot of water to the air.
What helps
A two-stage or variable-speed AC runs longer at low capacity, which removes more moisture. Some thermostats have a dehumidify setting that slows the blower when humidity is high. For basements, a standalone or whole-home dehumidifier is often the right tool. Aim for indoor humidity under about 50% in summer; Health Canada’s page on humidity and mould explains why.
If your home feels damp despite the AC, we can measure humidity, airflow and coil temperature and tell you what’s going on. More on our air conditioning and indoor air quality services, or contact us at 647-657-2977. We serve Richmond Hill and the GTA.
