Does AC Dehumidify Like a Regular Dehumidifier

Have you ever wondered, ‘Does AC dehumidify?’ Although dehumidifiers and AC are two different things, most people believe that they share similar traits and abilities. Those living in humid areas may have to deal with constant mildew and mold, which results in them having to buy a dehumidifier. 

However, some people believe that they don’t have to buy a separate device, believing that they can use the AC to dehumidify the house. So, what can you do with your AC and dehumidifier?

AC Does Not Dehumidify

Your AC has a different system and working mechanism from the dehumidifier. The AC removes humidity and heat. It doesn’t increase the dry and cool air. This process requires refrigerant, soaking up the moisture and heat effectively from the (indoor) air. The system is:

1. The indoor air will move, passing through the evaporator coil having the cold refrigerant
2. The refrigerant itself would keep the heat while the moisture (within the air) would condense within the coil
3. The condensation would fall into a type of pan located under the evaporator coil, draining out of its system
4. You then have the air (which has been dehumidified and cooled), which is blown back into the house. 

Does a Dehumidifier Help AC?

You should know that AC isn’t only delivering cool air to your house, but it also reduces the humidity level. The healthy humidity level should be set from 30% to 50%, but achieving this level can be quite difficult and challenging, especially in a humid situation or summer time. The dehumidifier is handy in helping AC works properly, especially in removing excess moisture from the air. 

Read also: Fix LG Portable Air Conditioner That’s Not Cooling

What Does Dehumidifier Do on AC?

Although AC and dehumidifier are two different devices, the AC has its own functional feature that can also help maintain the humidity level. When you activate this feature, you can remove the excess moisture from the indoor air, making it cleaner and healthier. 

In most cases, AC comes with the so-called ‘Dry Mode’ feature. It is the feature mostly used during rainy days (since the moisture level on rainy days is super high). This mode would keep the atmosphere within the room dry and cool by basically ‘drying’ the air. 

So, the AC activated in dry mode would function as the dehumidifier by sucking up moisture from the air. It would refresh the air in humid areas or climates. If you want to maximize the dehumidification ability, the AC can be activated at high or low temperatures. 

Reducing Humidity

In case you don’t know it, activating the AC can be enough to bring down the humidity level to less than 50%. But you may have to do these things in the event you still have to struggle with high humidity levels. 

1. Properly ventilate. Make sure you install the exhaust fan in the laundry room, kitchen, and bathroom, and run it every time you wash clothes, cook, and shower. 
2. Remove any standing water. Never leave any standing water to stay on its own. Wipe them off and remove them. 
3. Adjust the (AC) fan to automatic. Don’t forget that evaporator coils ‘collect’ condensation, and you need to remove them. To do so, you need to activate the fan and set it to automatic. In this manner, it will run only when the compressor starts. 
4. Install a dehumidifier. Although you may believe that you don’t need any separate dehumidifier, you actually still need one. You can make your dehumidifier and AC work together so your house will stay comfortable. 
5. Clean your evaporator coil. A dirty evaporator coil can’t function well. You need to clean the coil regularly. Make sure that you hire a pro service to do that. 

Conclusion

Although your AC has its own dehumidifier feature, it’s still a good idea to have a separate different machine on its own. After all, having your AC and dehumidifier work together isn’t a bad idea at all.