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Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning - Furnace & HVAC Repair St. Louis

Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning - Furnace & HVAC Repair St. Louis

Whole House Dehumidifier

How to Choose the Right HVAC Unit for Optimal Humidity

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Humidity plays a huge role in how you perceive the temperature around you and how comfortable you feel.

Sometimes the heat is unbearable because of excess moisture in the air not allowing your sweat to evaporate. Fortunately, your air conditioning unit can be set to act as a dehumidifier, making the indoor air bearable.

We will learn how to set the AC unit to dehumidify the air and what are more complex options if your indoor air is constantly close to saturation.

st. louis couple comfortable at home

Choose the Right Sized Unit for Your Space

First of all, it is important to choose the right sized air conditioning unit for your space. A unit that is too small will not be able to process the indoor air quickly enough to get rid of the excess moisture. The cooling capacity is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU,) and it should be chosen based on the size of the closed space where the air conditioning will be used.

By taking the volume of the room into account, you can calculate the minimum BTU capacity of your AC unit (around 25 BTU per square foot.) If your unit is too small for your space, it will run continuously without being able to cool the air efficiently. If you go with a bigger unit, you can also make a mistake, as a big unit will cool the air too quickly, not having enough time to remove moisture from the air.

Choosing the Right Settings for Your Unit to Dehumidify the Air

Your air conditioning unit generally does not have a built-in dehumidifier because it already can have that function. By cooling the air, it can collect moisture from it through condensation, then get rid of it by running the fan. Your AC unit might already have a dehumidifying mode (usually it is marked with a water drop symbol.)

If your unit does not have the preset mode for collecting excess moisture, you can just run the fan on the automatic position and cool the air as much as you can (set the temperature on the lowest setting.)

Use a Third–Party Dehumidifier

If your air conditioning unit is not powerful enough to dehumidify the air to a comfortable level, you can use a third party appliance for it. You can opt for a whole house dehumidifier that will connect to your HVAC unit, or you can use portable dehumidifiers, according to your own needs.

Replace Air Filters on Your Unit Regularly

If you are using the dehumidifying function often, make sure you replace the air filters regularly, so that the air flows undisturbed and also to prevent the growth of bacteria or mold.

For a better evaluation of your space, contact an HVAC expert that can recommend the best solution for your space. Give Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning and Heating a call today at (314) 471-7625!

6 Reasons to Consider Purchasing a Humidifier

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If you are experiencing these issues, it might be time to get a humidifier installed in your home.

We are in the midst of Winter in St. Louis, and the air is as dry as it’s going to get all year. What you might not know about this effect is the adverse outcomes it can have for your health. A few of them include dry skin, sinus issues, and throat pain. If you are experiencing these issues, it might be time to call an HVAC provider and get a humidifier installed in your home. We explain why in the following passages.

st. louis man with dry throat

Moisturize Your Skin

Depending on the weather outside, your indoor air could have a suboptimal level of humidity. A typical outcome of this issue is dryness, itchiness, and flaking of the skin and lips. Though you can use lotions and other moisturizers to keep this effect at bay, it is generally preferable to stop the problem at its source. Increasing the humidity inside your home is an excellent way to do so.

Throat Protection

Just like the skin, your throat can also dry out due to a lack of humidity. What can happen as a result is discomfort and irritation. Additionally, if you contract an illness, you will be much more uncomfortable than you would be in optimal humidity. A humidifier can make your living space much more hospitable for your throat.

Sinus Soothing

The sinuses are a notorious problem area for many people. Complications with them often lead to pain, facial pressure, headaches, bloody noses, and poor breathing. While it may seem counterintuitive to add fluid to your nose, doing so helps significantly. Humidity and the moisturizing effect it has keeps your sinuses lubricated and functioning correctly.

Kill Germs

The way many illnesses work is that first, somebody releases a virus into the world. As you walk around interacting with your environment, you pick that organism up and get infected. While humidity won’t protect you from germs on doorknobs and other objects, it will get rid of the ones in the air quicker than a home that is dry.

Warm Your Home

Something you’ve probably experienced in the past is a difference between wet and dry heat. The former has high humidity, while the latter does not. Though wet heat gets a bad name in places like Florida, some moisture is actually a positive thing in colder climates. A humidifier will make your home feel warmer while costing you little in electricity bills.

Reduce Snoring

Dry air can make your throat, mouth, and nose not function properly. The biggest reason why is inflammation. One of the most annoying results of this effect is snoring, which families often have severe issues with. What a humidifier can do is make the air healthier, lubricate the respiratory system of everyone in the house, and reduce snoring in the process.

If you think a humidifier might increase your comfort at home, then you should definitely look into it. The best way to do so is by talking to a local St. Louis HVAC company about getting a system that increases the humidity in your entire home. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 471-7625.

6 Low-Cost Ways to Increase Air Quality in Your Home

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Applying these six low-cost methods can increase the quality of your air.

Do you ever get the feeling that your air quality at home isn’t up to standard? While this suspicion is difficult to confirm, there is a good chance that you’re correct. The reason is that humans have an excellent sense of when conditions aren’t quite right. If you feel that way about your surroundings, then it may be time to make some changes that will benefit your air quality. We detail some of the best of them in the sections below.

st. louis woman cleaning her home

Keep it Clean

One of the primary pollutants that compromises in-home air quality is dust. As you might imagine, the best way to avoid it is by cleaning it up. You can do so by purchasing a vacuum with a HEPA filter for the floors, then using cleaning products for the rest of your surfaces. One thing to watch out for is that many of these products contain potentially harmful chemicals, so be careful with which ones you choose.

Control Humidity

The interesting thing about humidity is that is isn’t all bad or all good. Instead, having too much or too little of it are both bad for your air quality. The result is that your best bet is reaching a healthy equilibrium. Fortunately, humidifiers and dehumidifiers are both reliable products, so you can purchase the one that your home needs.

Don’t Smoke Inside

One of the worst things you can do for air quality in your home is smoke. Doing so adds particulates and many other harmful compounds into the air, and they will cause your health to suffer. If you or a guest in your home decide to smoke, your best bet is doing so outside.

Use an Exhaust Fan or Crack the Windows

Cooking is another everyday activity that decreases the quality of your air. The reason is that many stoves and ovens use burning gas to heat your food. The result of doing so can release harmful chemicals into your home. Using an exhaust fan or opening a nearby window decreasing your exposure significantly.

Clean Your HVAC Filter

As we mentioned above, dust is a crucial factor in your home’s air quality. While cleaning will do a lot to neutralize it, there are other sources of dust in your home. The most important of them is your HVAC filter, which can clog up quickly. You can protect yourself by cleaning it regularly.

Get More Plants

Not only are plants beautiful pieces of home decor, but they are also little air cleaning machines. The result is a house that looks better and protects your health.

Applying these six low-cost methods can increase the quality of your air. Unfortunately, there are sometimes other problems that require professional help, and they almost always come from your HVAC system. If you suspect this is the case in your home, give Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning and Heating a call at (314) 471-7625.

What Does a Dehumidifier Do for Your Home?

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During the summer months, the humidity levels in St. Louis can become very high and this can cause problems for both your home and your health.

In our previous post, we discussed the benefits of having a whole house humidifier in your home. But in St. Louis, where the humidity levels fluctuate from season to season, a whole house dehumidifier can also be very beneficial to your home and to your family’s health.

In the winter months, when the air tends to lack humidity, a humidifier is essential to maintaining a comfortable home environment. However, during the summer months, the humidity levels in St. Louis can become very high and this can cause problems for both your home and your health.

Portable dehumidifiers only tackle the moisture level in one room at a time, while whole-house dehumidifiers are connected to your home’s central cooling system to maintain balanced humidity levels throughout your entire home.

The Importance of a Dehumidifier

When there is excessive humidity in a home, it can lead to a whole host of issues. Some of these include:

  • Mold growth which often contributes to asthma attacks and allergies
  • Growth of bacteria which can cause illness
  • The spread of dust mites
  • Slow deterioration of a house’s structure such as warped beams and mold infested walls
  • A warm, stuffy house even though the air conditioner may constantly run

When the humidity levels in your home are high, the air conditioner must do the function of cooling the air and removing the moisture. This means that it must work harder.

The Benefits of a Whole House Humidifier

There are a number of advantages to having a whole house humidifier installed. Some of these benefits include:

  • They can be installed directly into your home’s cooling system
  • They improve whole-home comfort, not just in individual rooms
  • They are easy to maintain, only requiring attention once or twice a year
  • They monitor the relative humidity levels so that the right amount of moisture is maintained
  • They prevent wood floors and furniture from producing mold and rotting

The trend is to make a home air-tight, but with this there has been an increased concern about the indoor air quality this promotes. With little opportunity for fresh air to be circulated into the home, the growth of mold and spores can become rampant. If these allergens are allowed to grow and thrive inside of these closed conditions, your home’s air may become contaminated.

St. Louis Whole House Dehumidifier

If you have humidity issues in your home, Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating can help! We are a full service residential heating and air conditioning company in St. Louis. With over 30 years of experience, and with a master technician and mechanical engineer as our owner, we can replace, repair, and provide maintenance for your home’s HVAC system.

Call us today at (314) 471-7625 or fill out our online contact form to request a free estimate.

Should I Buy a Humidifier or a Dehumidifier For My Home?

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Some homes are just too humid in the summer and too dry in the winter.

st louis humidifier

Humidity levels inside a home should range between 30 to 60 percent, depending on what season it is. In the summer, the humidity level can go as high as 60 percent; in the winter the heat pump can bring the level down to below 30 percent. To keep your family comfortable, you will need to invest in both a humidifier and dehumidifier to take care of the seasonal fluctuations in relative humidity. When the humidity drops below 30 percent, the humidifier can bring it up to a comfortable level, and when it hits the 50 percent mark, the dehumidifier will do the trick.

Relative Humidity – How It Affects Your Health

Too high or too low humidity can have an adverse affect on your health, and it may be necessary to use a mechanical device to bring it up or down to a normal level. If you feel your skin is too dry or you are experiencing other skin problems such as eczema, then it is a sign you need to increase the humidity. Dry air can cause other symptoms as well, including congestion, sore throat, nosebleeds, dry sinuses, and a persistent cough. To alleviate these symptoms, invest in a humidifier.

On the other hand, if the humidity is too high, it can aggravate allergy symptoms and asthma. In the summer when you are using your air conditioning system, you may not require a dehumidifier; but in the fall and spring when your HVAC system is not in use, you may need a dehumidifier.

Relative Humidity – How It Affects Your Home

Dry air can have an adverse affect on natural materials such as leather and wood. You will need a humidifier to bring the humidity to the 40 percent mark to prevent cracking of musical instruments, leather furniture, window panes, and other such things in your home.
High moisture can promote the growth of mold and mildew. The early signs of high humidity inside a home are wet stains, a musty smell, window condensation, and rotting wood. If you have noticed these problems in your home, then you need a dehumidifier.

Choosing a Dehumidifier and Humidifier

It is important to choose a humidifier that is the right size for your home. You can choose between a tower, console, or tabletop humidifier. Humidifiers are available in two types: hot mist humidifier and cool mist humidifiers. If you want to humidify the entire house, you can invest in a whole house humidifier that is integrated with your HVAC system. Look for features such as a digital display, adjustable humidity level, automatic shut-off, and timer.

When choosing a dehumidifier for your home, capacity should be your first criteria. You can choose between a portable and whole house dehumidifier. The various features that you can look for are adjustable humidistat, digital display, auto shut-off, built-in pump, multispeed fan, and automatic defrost.

To get the moisture levels inside your home under control, get in touch with Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625.

Maximize Your Comfort During the Summer

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st louis hvac comfortWhen humidity is at its highest, the air in your home may feel stuffy despite the air conditioner running non-stop.

The peak of summer can get really hot and humid in Missouri. It is hard to stay outdoors for long and we often can’t wait to get back inside of our air conditioned homes. However, when the humidity becomes too much, the air conditioning system becomes overwhelmed and may not be able to function as well. As a result, the indoor air quality of your home is adversely affected.

Why Use a Dehumidifier?

When your comfort levels are compromised, there is one thing that can save you from the hot and humid weather. During the time when humidity is at its peak, your air conditioner tends to get overwhelmed and is no longer able to remove the moisture from the air. A dehumidifier may then be needed. You can either choose a standalone dehumidifier or a whole house dehumidifier. Many HVAC experts recommend a whole house dehumidifier as it removes humidity from the entire house and not just one room, making sure that all rooms are equally comfortable.

How a Dehumidifier Increases Your Comfort Level

There are many different ways in which a whole house dehumidifier can elevate the comfort level of your home. When the humidity in the air increases beyond a certain point, the air conditioning system has to work overtime. This puts an additional cooling load on the system and leads to an increase in utility bills. A whole house dehumidifier works with the air conditioner and reduces the burden on the cooling system.

Problems Created by High Humidity

Humidity not only creates comfort issues, it also creates several other problems including respiratory conditions and damage to furniture, electronics, and property.

  • Health problems: High moisture content in the air promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi, which can lead to a variety of health problems. The moisture droplets become a breeding ground for germs. Moisture promotes mold growth, which can cause or exacerbate allergies and symptoms of asthma.
  • Foul odors: Growth of mildew and mold in the moist areas of a home leads to a musty smell that can be quite offensive.
  • Warped floors and wooden furniture: Moisture in the air can settle on hard surfaces such as furnishings, furniture, and floors. Wooden surfaces may crack and warp when the moisture content is high in the air.
  • Condensation on pipes: Pipes with condensation, or a coating of water droplets, are signs of high moisture level in the house. When these droplets fall, they may cause sagging or soft spots on ceilings and floors.

It is best to seek advice from a St. Louis HVAC company on how a dehumidifier will best meet the needs of your home. Call Thomas Hoffmann Air Conditioning & Heating LLC at (314) 471-7625 to speak with an HVAC Engineer with over 30 years of experience!