In Florida, the humidity often gets to you before the heat does. So, while an air conditioner is a necessary appliance, sometimes a humidifier is even more important. Thankfully, an air conditioner, including portable spot coolers, can double as a humidifier.
Why is Humidity So Hot?
The reason the weather feels so much hotter in high humidity is because the air is filled with moisture and this prevents your skin from properly expelling sweat. As soon as the temperature peaks over 98 degrees, the skin automatically begins to sweat – of course, some people start to sweat much sooner.
If you are in a hot environment with low humidity, you will sweat and the dry air allows this sweat to evaporate, a process that naturally cools you off. This cannot occur when the humidity is high. Instead, moisture builds up on your skin, beneath your clothes, and in your hair, creating a sticky and uncomfortable feeling.
It’s not just people that suffer. Equipment can build up moisture as well, leading to rust or a complete breakdown of systems.
That’s why it’s so important to focus on reducing temperatures, as well as humidity levels to maintain a comfortable and productive work environment.
While an AC unit can work to reduce humidity, in some cases, the addition of a dehumidifier is more efficient at solving the problem – especially if high humidity is a large issue.
How it Works
A dehumidifier pulls in air and pushes it through the evaporator. The humid air is cooled off and the moisture is pulled from it. The cool and dry air continues to move through the system, onto the condenser before it is pushed back out into the room. From there, more hot and moist air is pulled in and the process repeats itself until the ideal temperature is reached.
The same parts you’ll find in a dehumidifier are also inside of an air conditioner. For instance, both systems rely on an evaporator, compressor, metering device, and condenser. A spot cooler can be rather effective at controlling humidity, and so too can HVAC systems that rely on evaporator coils. That’s because the evaporator coils cause moisture to condense and evaporate from the air.
Picture a cold can of soda sitting in a hot room – the can will start to sweat with water droplets collecting on the outside of the can. This same process occurs, with moisture collecting on the cooling coils, when hot air comes into contact with cold coils. Collected moisture is redirected to a collection basin, and the cooled air is pushed back out into the room.
Need Your Spot Cooler to Double as a Dehumidifier?
Let’s talk! We are happy to help you find the right setup for your business, factory, equipment room, or wherever else you need to address a heat or humidity issue.
Why It’s So Important to Reduce Humidity
There are countless scenarios in which it’s adamant to reduce humidity. For instance, if you are conducting a construction project, you’ll need a plan in place to dry materials. Using a spot cooler as a dehumidifier is an ideal option because it produces optimal conditions for curing, drying paints and cements, as well as adhesives. That way, it doesn’t take longer than it should for materials to set in place.
When drying construction materials, it is recommended that relative humidity levels remain between 25% and 55%, with temperatures staying in the range of 60 to 70 degrees F. In certain parts of the US, including Florida in the summer time, these conditions are near impossible to meet without the use of a dehumidifier.