Why does the air conditioner dry out the air? Simple explanation and solution to the problem
Any air conditioner dries the air unless it is equipped with an additional humidification function. This is due to the way the air in the split system is cooled. The problem can be solved by simple techniques from ventilation to timely breaks in the operation of the air conditioner.
Why does the air conditioner dry out the air?
It is difficult to imagine a comfortable life without air conditioning, but this device can cause health problems. The reason is dry air due to regular operation of the air conditioner. Have you noticed that any device certainly has an outdoor unit with a hose that removes moisture? Where does it come from?
Why does the air conditioner dry the air in cooling mode?
Everything is extremely simple: warm air from the room is sucked into the device and cooled. During sudden cooling, condensation is released, i.e. the air loses some of its moisture. The drainage system takes it outside and dumps it, unless it is an expensive model with a humidification function.
Why does the air dry out in heating mode?
Everything is again simple, and, by the way, neither the air conditioner nor the batteries are to blame. The air itself entering the rooms contains very little moisture. The colder it is, the less moisture it can hold; it simply condenses and falls out as rain or snow.
Entering the room, the air warms up and becomes more moisture-intensive, but it has nowhere to take this moisture from - this is what is felt as dryness.
Ideal climate
The optimal temperature for comfortable well-being is 21-23 degrees Celsius, humidity is from 40 to 60%. Use a thermometer and hygrometer to control.
Is constant drying safe?
In an hour of intense operation, an air conditioner can reduce humidity by up to 30 or even 15%. Dry air affects the skin and mucous membranes. Allergy sufferers have a particularly difficult time dealing with dryness. More serious problems: the lungs absorb oxygen worse, blood clotting increases.
Dryness spoils furniture, books, and negatively affects the health of pets and plants. But all this only manifests itself with regular and long-term use of the air conditioner.
How to Maintain Humidity
In what ways can you humidify the air when long-term operation of the air conditioner is necessary:
- Set the split system to a temperature that is not much different from room temperature.
- Program at least 24 degrees.
- Install special humidifier devices.
- Place containers with water, or even better, an aquarium. But this measure may not be enough.
- Choose air conditioners with additional cleaning and moisturizing functions.
- Produce indoor plants with wide leaf blades.
- A quick way to increase humidity is to hang wet towels.
- Ventilate the room daily.
- Don't forget about wet cleaning.
Take care of your comfort by cooling the air to optimal temperatures while maintaining humidity. Do not use the split system constantly; turn on the air conditioner only when necessary.
Thank you for your article! I convinced my wife that constant operation of the air conditioner is evil.
But can you make a correction?
Take away this: “As the air enters the room, it warms up and becomes more moisture-intensive, but it has nowhere to get this moisture from—this is what feels like dryness.” Cold air is no less moisture-intensive! When the temperature outside is below freezing, no one dries out into a dry leaf). There’s just no humidity in the room itself, and there’s nowhere to get it from. Concrete and brick walls are a moisture accumulator, why doesn’t anyone write about this anywhere!? The walls are also saturated with moisture!! They are like an accumulator of moisture in the room, and smooth out its sharp changes; the denser the concrete, the smoother the jumps in moisture changes. And when the air is dry, all moisture leaves the walls. And no amount of instant ventilation (equalizing the balance of moisture with atmospheric air) will save you for a long time, after prolonged use of the air conditioner! Until the walls are saturated with moisture as expected. An example is dryness in a newly built building.
You can solve the problem: a humidifier, a lot of indoor plants, cooking something on the stove like crazy)) washing clothes and drying them in the house.. etc.