Basement Systems Book

[sammy]

Just read from cover to cover - very interesting - great book. Our new
(old) house had some work done by 'Basement Systems' (just before we moved
in) and we will need/want more.

I am writing today because I did not understand something in the book.
Larry states that "humidity of air goes up 2.2% for every one-degree you
cool it". However, when I start the air-conditioner during a hot & humid
day, my temp gauge shows a decrease in both temp AND humidity. Plus, the
colder it gets in winter, the dryer the air.

Could you please clear this up?

thanks

[richard]

Sammy,

Glad the book was helpful!

Your air conditioner dehumidifies the air while it cools it, that's why water drips out the back of the unit -- however this is a huge waste of electricity and doesn't allow your AC unit to work to its best efficiency.

If you use a dehumidifier (http://www.basementsystems.com/dehumidifier/), one that is energy efficient like our SaniDry (http://www.basementsystems.com/basement_waterproofing/basement_dehumidifier.php), to dry the air, your air conditioner will cost less to use and work more efficiently.

Cold air doesn't hold as much moisture. So in winter there's not a lot of humidity in the air. In the summer, when warm outside air (which can hold a lot of water) with high relative humidity (http://www.basementsystems.com/learning_center/dehumidification/index.php) (RH) levels enter your home at the lower and sub-terranean levels (on page 8 the Stack Effect explains why air enters at the lower levels) where the air is cooler, the RH level rises by 2.2% for every one degree it is cooled -- thus the RH can attain 100% and you see condensation on coolor surfaces such as pipes, water tanks, etc., as the air gives up the water (because we can't have more than 100% RH).

Hope that helps.

-Richard