I have a 150k raypak heat pump heating 22k gallons near Sacramento and this is now our 3rd or 4th year with it. It’s fantastic - it can heat the pool up past 90F if we wanted. It takes 24-36 hours of constant running to get it up to 80F when the water is 50F in Feb or Nov if needed. We typically run though Easter to Halloween with no cover. Solar PV on house helps pay for it. Much better paying for electricity to move heat than the $2-$4/therm PG&E charges for gas. And a 400k btu gas heater burns 4 therms/hour. I was told the same thing about humidity and poor performance - it’s all BS. Heat pump works great in our area. Biggest thing is find condensation drain management.
Thinking about adding a heat pump if I'm planning on adding solar panels/battery to home
- Thread starter rpk1430
- Start date
It makes some difference, but not enough to say that a heat pump will not work.
80 Air, 80 Water and 0% humidity = 97,941 btu/hr
80 Air, 80 Water and 100% Humidity = 156,765 btu/hr.
Difference = 58,824 btu/hr.
That is about 60.64 lb of water or about 7.2 gallons of water difference.
Each 1% of humidity makes about 588 btu/hr of difference.
Line Equation: y = 588.24x + 97,941.18
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The state with the highest average humidity in the US is Alaska, with an average annual relative humidity of 74.3%.
Conversely, Arizona is the least humid state, with an average annual relative humidity of 40.4%.
Alaska: 74.33% (141,665 btu/hr).
Arizona: 40.38% (121,694 btu/hr).
About 20,000 btu/hr difference from the most humid to the least humid assuming 80 air and 80 water temp.
Top 10 most humid states
Alaska: 74.33% (141,665 btu/hr).
Louisiana: 74.25%
Mississippi: 72.5%
Michigan: 72.19%
Florida: 72.17%
Minnesota: 71.90%
Iowa: 71.88%
Wisconsin: 71.63%
Illinois: 71% (tie)
Indiana: 71% (tie)
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Top 10 least humid states
Arizona: 40.38% (121,694 btu/hr).
Nevada: 44.10%
New Mexico 45.67%
Colorado: 49.10%
Utah: 53%
Wyoming: 54.75%
Idaho: 56%
California: 58.62%
Montana: 59.36%
Maryland: 65% (tie)
Rhode Island: 65% (tie)
Conversely, Arizona is the least humid state, with an average annual relative humidity of 40.4%.
Alaska: 74.33% (141,665 btu/hr).
Arizona: 40.38% (121,694 btu/hr).
About 20,000 btu/hr difference from the most humid to the least humid assuming 80 air and 80 water temp.
Top 10 most humid states
Alaska: 74.33% (141,665 btu/hr).
Louisiana: 74.25%
Mississippi: 72.5%
Michigan: 72.19%
Florida: 72.17%
Minnesota: 71.90%
Iowa: 71.88%
Wisconsin: 71.63%
Illinois: 71% (tie)
Indiana: 71% (tie)
______________________________
Top 10 least humid states
Arizona: 40.38% (121,694 btu/hr).
Nevada: 44.10%
New Mexico 45.67%
Colorado: 49.10%
Utah: 53%
Wyoming: 54.75%
Idaho: 56%
California: 58.62%
Montana: 59.36%
Maryland: 65% (tie)
Rhode Island: 65% (tie)
Cities With the Highest Humidity
Some of the most humid cities in the U.S. hover around 90% humidity year-round. Lake Charles, LA, Jackson, MS, and Meridian, MS, top the list, along with Brownsville and Port Arthur, TX. While Texas is often associated with dry landscapes, its Gulf Coast cities experience intense humidity due to ocean winds and warm temperatures.
Other highly humid cities include Gainesville, FL (89%), Baton Rouge, LA (89%), and Houston, TX (89%). The common factor? Proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, which constantly pumps moisture into the air. Even inland cities like Jackson, MS, experience high humidity due to swampy terrain.
Surprisingly, St. Paul Island, AK, also ranks among the most humid locations (88%). Despite its cold climate, the island’s constant exposure to ocean moisture and high winds leads to persistently high humidity levels. This highlights an important point—humidity isn’t just about heat; it’s about moisture in the air, regardless of temperature.
Cities With the Lowest Humidity
If you want to avoid sticky air and constant moisture, head west. The driest cities in the U.S. include Las Vegas, NV (36%), Bishop, CA (38%), and Phoenix, AZ (46%). These areas experience minimal rainfall, high temperatures, and dry desert winds, making them some of the least humid places to live.
Texas, a state with some of the most humid cities, also has one of the driest—El Paso (50%). Located in the state’s far western desert region, El Paso’s climate is hot but extremely dry, reducing the risk of mold and moisture-related home damage.
Other cities with low humidity include Denver, CO (50%), Winslow, AZ (52%), and Albuquerque, NM (53%). If you prefer dry conditions, consider high-altitude cities or desert climates, which have lower humidity year-round.
Some of the most humid cities in the U.S. hover around 90% humidity year-round. Lake Charles, LA, Jackson, MS, and Meridian, MS, top the list, along with Brownsville and Port Arthur, TX. While Texas is often associated with dry landscapes, its Gulf Coast cities experience intense humidity due to ocean winds and warm temperatures.
Other highly humid cities include Gainesville, FL (89%), Baton Rouge, LA (89%), and Houston, TX (89%). The common factor? Proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, which constantly pumps moisture into the air. Even inland cities like Jackson, MS, experience high humidity due to swampy terrain.
Surprisingly, St. Paul Island, AK, also ranks among the most humid locations (88%). Despite its cold climate, the island’s constant exposure to ocean moisture and high winds leads to persistently high humidity levels. This highlights an important point—humidity isn’t just about heat; it’s about moisture in the air, regardless of temperature.
Cities With the Lowest Humidity
If you want to avoid sticky air and constant moisture, head west. The driest cities in the U.S. include Las Vegas, NV (36%), Bishop, CA (38%), and Phoenix, AZ (46%). These areas experience minimal rainfall, high temperatures, and dry desert winds, making them some of the least humid places to live.
Texas, a state with some of the most humid cities, also has one of the driest—El Paso (50%). Located in the state’s far western desert region, El Paso’s climate is hot but extremely dry, reducing the risk of mold and moisture-related home damage.
Other cities with low humidity include Denver, CO (50%), Winslow, AZ (52%), and Albuquerque, NM (53%). If you prefer dry conditions, consider high-altitude cities or desert climates, which have lower humidity year-round.
Note: Line extended (Extrapolated) from the two given points.
Most likely, the values +/- about 10% on either side are probably pretty accurate.
Humidity down to 0% is assumed to be pretty accurate, but we do not have actual numbers from testing data.
In any case, most places will have a humidity close enough to the known points to have usable data.
Most likely, the values +/- about 10% on either side are probably pretty accurate.
Humidity down to 0% is assumed to be pretty accurate, but we do not have actual numbers from testing data.
In any case, most places will have a humidity close enough to the known points to have usable data.