How Drier Air Can Increase Comfort
Generations of Long Islanders have wondered whether it’s really possible to take the sweat out of summer — that unique sweat that’s spawned by humidity. While you can’t control humidity levels outdoors, you can certainly take the upper hand with indoor humidity if you install a dehumidifier. Continue reading “Take the Sweat Out of Summer When You Install a Dehumidifier”
See How Your New Energy Saving System Could Qualify for Credits
The cost of replacing an air conditioning unit can be quite a shocker for the average homeowner. But a homeowner who’s ready to purchase a new A/C this summer can get some financial relief by choosing a system that qualifies for federal energy tax credits. Continue reading “Let Federal Energy Tax Credits Ease the Pain of an Ailing A/C”
Use the End of Summer to Work On Maximizing Energy UseEvery small step you take to reduce your home energy consumption adds up. But to achieve significant savings over a long period of time, you should devise a long-term energy savings strategy. Continue reading “Time to Map Out a Long-Term Energy Savings Strategy”
Your heat pump air conditioner requires regular maintenance to keep it running efficiently and to help you save money on your energy costs. Continue reading “A Heat Pump Air Conditioner Needs Regular Maintenance”
When it’s hot and humid outdoors, who can blame you for pining for the creature comforts of home? But if you walk through the door and register the “eww” factor, don’t despair. Your Long Island home can be a haven if you take steps to improve indoor air quality. Continue reading “Your Long Island Home Is a Haven When You Improve Indoor Air Quality”
There’s no way to predict exactly what area will be hit by a storm, so it’s a good idea to prepare your home and family in advance. Then you’ll be ready long before a named hurricane takes aim at your town. Continue reading “Be Ready if the Power Goes Out in Your Long Island Home”
If you haven’t undertaken an A/C installation before (or at least a proper A/C upgrade or installation), you may be surprised by the volume of information acquired. Continue reading “Your A/C Installation: You Know About Manual J and Manual D, but What About Manual S?”
The last thing you want to deal with when the temperature soars outside is a poorly performing air conditioner. Continue reading “Your Poorly Performing Air Conditioner Is at the End of the Line? The Telling Signs”
Running your air conditioner 24/7 is enough to counter summer heat gain, but it sure doesn’t make your energy bills look very pretty. Here are some helpful tips for keeping your home cooler so your A/C doesn’t have to work as hard. Continue reading “Is Summer Heat Gain Getting the Upper Hand in Your Long Island Home?”
Hot and humid weather describes a good deal of the climatic conditions in Long Island, making an air conditioner and dehumidifier important components for many homes. While an air conditioner does remove humidity, it’s more a side effect of the conditioning process.
If any of these conditions exist in your home, you may benefit from having both of these appliances:
Humidity promotes the growth of mold and mildew, which thrive in an environment where the humidity is over 60 percent. Mold is inherently dangerous, and the most common airborne allergen is dust mite waste. If you’re not sure if the humidity levels exceed 60 percent, you can measure them with an inexpensive hygrometer that you can move from space to space to see if your levels are high.
If the humidity stays over 60 percent after cooling your home to a comfortable temperature, the combination of an air conditioner and dehumidifier could increase your comfort, health and your home environment.
Depending on the severity of the humidity in your home, you can use portable dehumidifiers, notably in the basement. But if the problem is widespread, a central dehumidification system could serve you well. These systems pull the air through the ductwork and blow it over a chilled coil, removing the water vapor and returning drier air through the ducts.
It could be more energy efficient for you to use a central system if you find yourself turning down the thermostat for the air conditioner to reduce indoor humidity levels. You can also use the dehumidifier in lieu of the air conditioner when cooling isn’t needed, but humidity removal is, like in the spring and fall.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of an air conditioner and dehumidifier, contact T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating. We’ve been providing HVAC services for Long Island homeowners since 1934.
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