Why the air conditioner dries the air when heating and how to raise the humidity of the room

Depending on the season and climatic conditions, the household air conditioner cools or heats the air in the room. There is no humidification function in standard models. It is worth understanding the features of the device and methods of normalizing the microclimate of the home, and also find out if the air conditioner dries the air when it cools.

Room humidity rate

The current sanitary rules and regulations provide for an acceptable range of air humidity in residential premises from 40% to 60%. In the middle climatic zone, the natural rate is around 70%. The refrigeration unit is able to reduce it to 20-30% for a couple of hours of operation.

For comparison, the Sahara Desert can be cited as an example. Air humidity in this area is 30-50%. It's dry and hot here. At high temperature and humidity, the room creates a feeling of stuffiness.

Low moisture content of air masses affects the human condition, affecting:

  • the ability of the lungs to absorb oxygen;
  • skin elasticity;
  • condition of the mucous membranes;
  • general well-being;
  • working capacity;
  • development of allergic reactions to synthetic fibers, wool and dust, which were previously associated with water.

If the humidity is kept low for a long time, wooden objects dry out, the glue in the books loses its basic properties, and the paper becomes brittle.

However, high humidity is more dangerous than dry air. To harm a person, the air must be very dry. This is difficult to achieve when using a standard household air conditioner.

Any split systems dry the air when cooled. Professional devices have a humidification function. However, they cost several times more.

The principle of the air conditioner

To explain why the air conditioner dries the air, you can use the example of the operation of a standard device. Its principle of operation is as follows:

  • Split systems have indoor and outdoor units. When the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode in the outdoor unit, freon (refrigerant) is pumped into the radiator. It heats up from the pressure. The heat from the radiator is released into the atmosphere.
  • The cooled freon is directed to the indoor unit. Here it expands sharply, due to which its temperature decreases, and the air in the room gives off heat to the refrigerant.
  • Condensation appears on the cold heat exchanger, which is chilled water from the air in the room.
  • Then the liquid is discharged to the outside.

To understand how air conditioners humidify or dry the air, it is worth considering the principle of their operation in different modes.

Dehumidification with cooling

An ordinary air conditioner can dry out the air, reducing the humidity level to 15-30% in 1-3 hours. However, such situations only happen with frequent use of the split system.

A decrease in humidity can have both negative and beneficial effects on human health. The result depends on the climate in the region. In the subtropics, air humidity can greatly exceed the optimal values ​​for humans. For example, in Sochi it fluctuates around 76-78%. This humidity is much higher than a comfortable level.

In some cases, an additional dehumidifier may be required, which, together with the air conditioner, will reduce the concentration of water in the air to the optimal range of 40-60%.

In addition to deteriorating health, high humidity leads to allergies and the development of mold.The risk of spreading infections in such conditions increases.

The atmosphere in the room becomes stuffy precisely due to the high humidity. In cooling mode, the air conditioner is able to increase efficiency and improve the well-being of residents.

Heating the room with air conditioning

When heated, a household air conditioner works on the principle of a heat pump, which distinguishes it from any electric heaters. It "pumps" heat from the street to the room even at sub-zero temperatures.

The operation of a heat pump can be explained by the example of the action of alcohol that is poured onto the hand. In such cases, the person feels cold from the rapid evaporation of the liquid. Alcohol evaporates and takes away heat. However, there is also a reverse process.

When a liquid condenses, it brings heat with its particles. In nature, this process does not occur explicitly. However, experts were able to reproduce it in an air conditioner:

  • Freon under high pressure condenses on the heat exchanger of the indoor unit. As a result, the air conditioner element heats up to 60-80 degrees.
  • Then the liquid freon enters the outdoor unit, where it turns into gas again.
  • Here it boils, taking heat from the atmosphere.

When the device is operating in heating mode, the heat exchanger remains warm, so a large amount of condensate cannot fall out, which means that the air conditioner does not dry the air during heating.

Ways to normalize air humidity

The easiest way to increase humidity is to place an aquarium or a container of water in the room. Water naturally evaporates from the surface, moisturizing the air masses. The method is effective, but in most cases it is not sufficient to achieve optimal performance.

With intensive operation of the air conditioner, it is better to choose the following methods:

  • Indoor installation of indoor plants. To maintain humidity in the 40-50% range, the leaves must have a large area. However, many plants do not tolerate dry air well, so the measure is temporary.
  • Installing a room humidifier. The device vaporizes water into a gaseous state using spraying, heating elements or ultrasound.
  • Purchase of an air conditioner with a humidification function. Such systems have a nozzle chamber in which a finely dispersed water suspension is sprayed. The device can have a humidity sensor, which allows you to adjust the desired indicator automatically.
  • A temporary measure is to spread wet towels on the battery. The fabric will need to be moistened periodically. Curtains and drapes after washing can not be completely wrung out, hanging them in this form on the windows.

In winter, air humidity drops sharply due to the operation of central heating and a large number of electrical appliances. It can reach 10-20%. The microclimate with such indicators is uncomfortable for humans and negatively affects the state of health.

The following preventive measures help prevent a critical decrease in humidity:

  • air the rooms daily in the morning and in the evening;
  • carry out wet cleaning every 2-3 days;
  • insulate the outer walls with foam.

A standard household air conditioner can remove up to 2.5 liters of water from a room in an hour. However, its role in dehumidification is exaggerated. For optimal air exchange in the room, together with a domestic air conditioner, it is worth purchasing a supply ventilation system. As a result, the air from the street will be supplied in sufficient quantity.

Thus, it can be argued that in the cooling mode, the split systems dry the air masses, but it is not critical for health. To maintain optimal humidity, use additional devices or resort to preventive measures.

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  1. Vladimir

    Sorry, this is just hellish nonsense. I will not paint everything, but this, this is, excuse me, atomic nonsense:

    The following preventive measures help prevent a critical decrease in humidity:
    air the rooms daily in the morning and in the evening;
    carry out wet cleaning every 2-3 days;
    insulate the outer walls with foam.

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