Home Inspection State Practice Exam

How does high humidity impact the load on an air conditioning system?

1. Increases the sensible load

2. Reduces the latent load

3. Decreases the sensible load

4. Has no effect on the load

The correct answer is: Decreases the sensible load

High humidity primarily affects an air conditioning system by increasing the latent load. The latent load refers to the energy required to remove moisture from the air. When humidity levels are high, the air conditioning system must work harder to dehumidify the air, which can lead to an increase in energy consumption. In detail, the sensible load is related to the temperature of the air, while the latent load concerns moisture removal. When humidity increases, the system must not only cool the air but also remove excess moisture, effectively increasing the overall load on the AC unit. Therefore, the right answer relates to how the high humidity contributes to the total energy load the system must handle, emphasizing the importance of managing both temperature and humidity in indoor environments.