Hathcoat!  Air Conditioning and Heating  

When we design a heating and cooling system we consider many factors so as to provide the proper size equipment and thus the most comfort for your home or environment. Our many years of experience and our extensive knowledge of climate engineering make us the best choice when you need help with your air comfort solutions. One of the most important considerations for properly sizing a cooling system is humidity.

In this area of Oklahoma we experience low humidity in the winter and very high humidity in the summer. Humidity is a large consideration to being comfortable in your environment. 

During the summer your air conditioner removes the humidity as it cools. This is accomplished by the evaporator or cooling coil typically located either above or below your furnace or air handler. This is done simply by the coil being colder than the room air and thus causing the moisture in the air to condense on the coil and be drained off. This is the same effect seen as the water condensing on the outside of a cold glass of tea.

When a cooling system is properly designed it will operate enough to remove the humidity so the air is both cool and "crisp". If the equipment installed is too large it will not operate long enough to remove the moisture. And if the system is too small it will not be able to remove enough heat. 

Cooling equipment that is too large will make it necessary to set the thermostat at a lower temperature to try and make it more comfortable. A lower thermostat setting uses more energy thus causing higher electric bills. And finally oversized equipment may cause high levels of humidity and unhealthy mold.

In the winter months here in Oklahoma the dry air may become uncomfortable. With over thirty years experience in this area we however do not recommend installing a humidifier in your central heating equipment. This is why; we have personally seen how nasty this can be. Most humidifiers installed in central heating systems simply spray a mist of water vapor into the airstream or ductwork. The sediments in the water collect in the duct and over years of use can collect and become very noticeable. Additionally this moisture can contribute to the growth of mold throughout the entire duct system.

What we recommend for the dry winter months is a stand alone humidifier or simply leaving a bathtub with a small amount of water to evaporate into the air.