Most people think of air conditioning as a luxury that keeps us comfortable during the summer, and while you can go without AC most of the time, it does more than just keep you cool. For starters, air conditioning reduces humidity as it pushes cooler air through a building. Some humidity can be a good thing, but too much of it can lead to mold growth and other problems. It’s also very uncomfortable, as anybody who has ever been in an extremely humid environment for too long will be able to tell you.
Air conditioning is also helpful in filtering out pollutants such as pollen, dander, and anything else that can cause allergic reactions and upper respiratory problems. Since allergies can become much worse during the main cooling season of the spring and summer, anything that reduces allergens in the air is welcome.
Finally, air conditioning can also help people function better overall. This is particularly why businesses all but require air conditioning in their buildings. Complex tasks that require a lot of concentration become much more difficult to perform in extremely hot and humid environments. Having an air conditioned space not only feels more comfortable, but it will improve productivity as long as it works.
Important Things to Consider
Having air conditioning is indeed important, but there are still some things to consider for your own home or business. First of all, you need to keep in mind that air conditioning reduces the amount of humidity in your home. This means it’s surprisingly easy to become dehydrated if you run your air conditioner nonstop while you’re home. If you start to feel this way, turn off your air conditioner for a while and drink some water. You also need to be mindful of how quick temperature changes can affect your health. Being outside in 90 degree heat is bad enough, but you don’t want to suddenly step into a space that is 60 degrees or cooler right away. Keep your thermostat at a more reasonable temperature if you want to avoid a nasty shock to your system.
Finally, air conditioners won’t help you at all if they’re not working properly. If you notice that the air coming from your vents isn’t as cool as it should be or that your AC unit is making strange sounds, contact a St Charles heating and cooling company to have it checked out.
