People say “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” but sweating air conditioning vents can cause warping and/or other unwanted water damage to the air conditioning unit and its installation. There are times in SW Florida where we all feel the desire to open up the windows. Whether you live closer to the water, on the beach or inland, one rule holds true: Turn OFF your air conditioning if you are going to open up the windows. It can also affect the overall performance of the unit.
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Technical Air Conditioning Talk
Air conditioning is designed to operate as a closed loop. If you have the windows open, you are drawing in humid, warm outside air. This forces your AC unit to “condition” that air as well. If you close the windows, the AC unit recirculates the air in the house, removing moisture and cooling much more efficiently. Negative pressure can also be the culprit here. Hot or warm humid air can seep in from open windows or cracked sliding doors. This extra air coming in will make it difficult for your air conditioner to keep up. It will bog down your system and increase your energy bills.
The Repeat Offenders
The Vacationer: You and your family are on vacation by the beach. The sounds of crashing waves are what you desire, but you also want the cool, dry feeling of air conditioning. You CAN have both, but it requires your smart phone put on the crashing waves setting. Here is the reality of the situation. It is BAD to keep the AC running with the windows open. The owner of the vacation home, or rental company will thank you for being respectful of their air conditioning system and utility bill.
The Prop-the-Door-Open Guy: Think propping the door open for a long period of time won’t affect your AC? Think again. You are affecting the balance of pressure in your home, which will change the efficiency of your air conditioning system and the indoor air quality. Do yourself and your AC a favor. Ditch the prop and just close the door. Your wallet will thank you for increasing the efficiency of your AC.
The Forgotten About Filter: Open windows aren’t the only causes of sweaty vent syndrome. Dirty coils or a clogged air filter can also do damage. Be proactive and check and/or change your air filter every month. If your air filter is clean and not clogged, and you suspect you have dirty coils, it’s time for Home-Tech to take over.
The Mis-Informed: Have you had an air conditioning technician come out and tell you that sweating air conditioning vents are normal? If so, you received bad information. Sweating AC vents are not desirable. Perhaps your air conditioning unit is located in a highly humid area or your air conditioning was not properly installed. Call a licensed air conditioning company, like Home-Tech, and have the professionals take a look at it.
Air Conditioning Vents Still Sweating?
If sweaty grills and vents are prevalent in your home, your energy bills are spiking and the efficiency of your air conditioning is lapsing. It’s time to call Home-Tech and schedule a service call. Our NATE certified technicians will get your humidity and other air conditioning problems taken care of quickly. Your comfort is our priority. We will get your AC performance back to its optimal levels. Save on the cost of this air conditioning service by using our First Call’s On Us special offer. Call today to schedule service at 800-433-9740.