Your air conditioner is built to help remove excess humidity in the air as it cools. Sometimes, a malfunction can occur and you may notice that conditions in the home are more humid than usual. If you open up the A/C cabinet and find telltale signs of excessive condensation, it’s probably time to call for repairs.
Checking the Condensate Drain
Under normal conditions, your A/C will remove humidity from the air as it flows across the evaporator coils. The moisture will flow in the form of condensation through the condensate drain and out of the home through the wastewater plumbing.
Some signs that you’ve got a condensation issue:
- Water around the A/C
- Visible signs of mold or mildew inside the A/C
- Too much humidity in the home
- An overflowing condensate pan
- Unpleasant moldy smell
Blocked Condensate Pan
Condensate pans and drainage should be checked annually, when you schedule your spring-time preventative maintenance for your air conditioner. Lines can become dislodged or blocked, as bacteria and sludge form. Whenever there’s blockage, the pan can overflow.
An overflowing condensate pan can cause a number of problems, from mold, to water damage to floors, carpets, drywall or the HVAC system itself.
Furthermore, a blocked condensate pan will raise the humidity levels in your home, making it even more difficult for the A/C to cool the home efficiently. You’ll feel the need to keep lowering the thermostat just to feel comfortable, which will lead to unnecessarily higher bills.
Other Problems
A blocked condensate pan isn’t the only reason you may be noticing too much moisture in your home. Other typical causes are:
- Dirty air filter. Believe it or not, a very dirty air filter can prevent an A/C from properly dehumidifying the home by slowing airflow across the evaporator coils, leading to excess condensation.
- Low refrigerant. Have your A/C refrigerant level checked each spring by a licensed HVAC consultant.
- Broken condensate pump. A broken pump can’t efficiently exhaust the moisture in your line.
To learn more about how to handle excess condensation, contact Ace Hardware Home Services. We serve Dayton and the surrounding area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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