Keeping employees comfortable in the workplace means controlling humidity as well as the temperature. High indoor humidity not only makes workers uncomfortable, but it also hurts productivity by slowing people down and causing physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and respiratory issues.
Yes, air conditioning is supposed to control humidity. But problems with your system may be preventing it from doing its job properly. So if the air in your facility feels sticky and stale, here’s what you can do to bring the humidity down to comfortable levels.
4 ways to control indoor humidity levels in your facility
1. Start with maintenance
Regular service helps keep your air conditioning equipment operating properly so it can properly control indoor humidity. Here are just some of the tasks that keep your system working at peak performance:
- Replacing filters
- Cleaning coils
- Optimizing air flow
- Lubricating moving parts
- Replacing worn parts, such as belts
- Testing electrical connections
- Checking refrigerant levels
- Cleaning drain lines and pans
A good cleaning and tune up may be all you need to restore air flow and control water leaks that may be contributing to high humidity.
2. Update your ventilation
Have you changed the layout of your space, the occupancy level, or the usage of certain areas? If you have, but you didn’t update your ventilation design, chances are your HVAC system is no longer able to create optimal conditions. The result? Poor temperature and indoor humidity control.
If you have noticed hot and cold areas along with sticky, humid air in the summer, it’s time to take a look at your ductwork layout. Adding or rerouting ductwork, and sometimes adding fans, can make a big difference. You may also benefit from adding a makeup air unit to improve ventilation.
3. Update your air conditioning equipment
Here’s something you might not know about choosing AC systems, even as an experienced facilities professional: getting the capacity right is critical.
If the capacity is too small for the needs of the space, it won’t cool properly. But too large is just as bad: you’ll often wind up with excess humidity. That’s because a system that’s too large turns on and off frequently and doesn’t run long enough to remove enough moisture from the air.
If your older system was chosen and installed by a builder without the help of an HVAC expert, you may be facing this issue. Or, your space, usage and occupancy may have changed, as I mentioned above.
Another issue may be the type of system you have. If it only runs at one speed, that’s not great for removing humidity. Modern systems can run at variable speeds that match the conditions, so they do a much better job of controlling humidity.
To optimize indoor humidity levels, you may need to replace equipment or supplement your existing system. Start with an evaluation of your space and your load conditions.
4. Add specialized humidity control
If you have specific spots that get too humid even with optimized ventilation (like basements or locker rooms), you might need to add dehumidification equipment in those areas.
Monitoring and prevention are key strategies to control indoor humidity
Once you have restored proper humidity levels with an optimized system, it’s important to monitor your conditions to make sure conditions stay that way.
- Use air monitoring devices to regularly test the air in different spots and different times of day. Humidity levels can vary throughout a building and throughout the day.
- Periodically walk through the facility to check for water leaks and musty odors. Be sure to remove any standing water in dehumidifiers, rooftop equipment, and boiler pans.
- Monitor employee comfort levels. If people report feeling fatigue, headaches, and trouble concentrating, the first thing to check is the operation of your HVAC system.
An expert HVAC contractor like Worthing Air can perform an analysis of your space, equipment and ventilation system using ASHRAE guidelines. We’ll work with you to make sure the system works for your space and building occupants.
Call Worthing Air today at 973-575-5276.
Worthing Air is the HVAC service partner more NJ companies rely on. Efficiency, quality, and integrity have been the backbone of our operation for over 40 years. Our technical expertise ensures safe, high-quality, and timely workmanship on every project.