I'm dealing with a lot of humidity in my house, especially upstairs, and it's becoming a challenge. I have a 12,000 BTU air conditioner installed in a downstairs window, which works great, but I can't use window units upstairs. Instead, I have a 12,000 BTU portable air conditioner up there, and honestly, it just doesn't cut it. It feels slightly cooler, but it doesn't come close to lowering the humidity, which stays at 72% even after running all night. I've also bought a dehumidifier for the upstairs, but it only seems to make the spare room and hallway extremely hot—up to 90 degrees! I'm at a loss for what to do since we can't afford central air or mini splits, especially since I'm about to have my first baby and I want to ensure both of us can sleep comfortably despite the humidity. Any advice?
3 Answers
It sounds like you might be struggling a bit with that portable AC! Have you checked if it's a dual hose model? If it isn't, it's probably pulling in warm, humid air from outside to replace what it's venting out, which can really mess with your cooling. Dual hose units are way more efficient because they don't create that negative pressure. Plus, window units usually do a better job at cooling and dehumidifying. If you can, consider looking for one of those U-shaped window ACs; they’re a lot easier to install than traditional units and might fit your needs better!
Yeah, dehumidifiers can sometimes heat up the room while removing moisture, which isn’t ideal. I used to have a similar setup before getting central air. For portable AC, try pointing a fan towards the unit to help circulate the cooler air throughout the room. You can also place some fans in doorways and hallways to improve airflow, which might help balance the temperature a bit!
I’ll definitely give the fan trick a try! Fingers crossed it helps. Thanks!
Just a heads up, not all AC units dehumidify the same way! While they all remove some moisture, larger or improperly sized units can actually cool the air too quickly, leaving humidity behind. It might be worth considering slightly under-sizing your AC to maintain a balance between cooling and dehumidification. Also, make sure there aren't any air leaks around your windows that could let in moist air! If you’re stuck with the portable unit, try running it on the lowest fan setting to help with moisture control.
That's super helpful! I never thought about it that way. I'll check for air leaks and see about adjusting the unit settings.
Thanks for the suggestion! I honestly had no idea about dual hose units. I'm definitely going to look into that!