Dennis Reed - Page 48 of 53

Set the Temperature to 72 Degrees?

True story. I was sitting with my wife recently, eating dinner at a restaurant and got into a conversation about the thermostat and what was the ideal temperature to put it on and she said 72 degrees, and she said it like I was the only one in the world that did not know that. Duh.

Who came up with 72 degrees? Why am I just now hearing this?

As it turns out that 72 degrees is a very popular belief about thermostats. It is widely believed that 72 degrees on the thermostat is setting that it is the most comfortable.

But when it comes to the heating and air system in your home, comfort, unfortunately, is not the only thing you have to consider.

Controlling the climate in your home is also the most expensive thing on your energy bill you have to think about.

Is it better to keep your thermostat at a constant temperature?

A thermostat is a contentious object in my house.

Another true story. This past cold season, I got home one day to a sweltering house only to find my teenage daughter running around in shorts and flip flops in the middle of winter. She has cranked the thermostat up because she got cold.

Really?

At that point, I told the kids if they are not allowed to touch the thermostat!

So keeping the thermostat at a constant temperature in my house is necessary to avoid fluctuations in temperature based on any one of my teenage kids whims.

But even though socially it might make sense,
cost-wise, leaving the thermostat set at the same temperature all the time just means wasted energy and a higher energy bill.

Turning the thermostat up or down ( depending on the season) when you go to bed will help save money and you don’t need the temperature to remain as cool or warm when you are asleep.

Another example is during the day when everyone is at work or school,
adjusting the thermostat either down in Winter or up in summer a few degrees will help you save money on your electric bill as well.

Another reason I don’t let no one touch the thermostat is that they go way overboard. They get a little cold and they turn it up five degrees, or they get a little hot and they turn it way down.

But the heat and AC will not work any faster because you turn it way up or down.

It will only cause the machine to keep running longer do you realize you made it too hot or cold.

A big waste of energy.

Why all 72 may be a popular temperature to keep the house it is also not really the best.

What is a reasonable temperature for the house in winter?

68 is the recommended temperature to set the thermostat on in winter. It is basically the temperature that takes the average of comfortability and cost.

For many people, 68 may be too cold. Regardless, there is no hard rule about it. And no significant change in the energy bill if you raise or lower it.

The ideal is that you keep it as low as you can and still feel comfortable so that you can keep your energy bill down.

What temperature to set the thermostat on in winter when away?

If you’re away for a normal 8-hour workday, setting the temperature on the thermostat to 62 is a great way to reduce your energy consumption and lower your energy bill.

If you’re going away on vacation you should not set your thermostat below 55 degrees.

Why? Frozen pipes. Anything lower puts you at risk of coming home from your vacation to cracked and leaking pipes.

What temperature is too cold for the house?

Once the cold weather hits, you can no longer worry just about your own comfort and the cost of your energy bill, you have to store considering what is too cold for your plumbing. Water freezing inside of your pipes is a problem that no one wants to have to deal with.

According to the Energy company, 55 degrees is the lowest you want to set your thermostat in winter to avoid cracked pipes and damage to the air handler.

is 72 a good temperature for air conditioning?

72 degrees is a comfortable temperature but one that will cause your energy bill to be higher.

78 degrees is the temperature that is recommended for your thermostat in the summer.

78 degrees is optimal to maintain comfort and a lower energy bill. But it is unlikely to be the temperature of choice.
But the point is to raise your thermostat to a point that it is comfortable enough and doesn’t kill your electricity bill.

The best temperature for sleeping in summer.

Turning your thermostat up at night and using a fan or open window can save you a significant amount over the summer on your energy bill.
By setting your thermostat to 78 or even 80° at night, you should see a markable difference.

Though obviously these rules are just guidelines and not everyone is going to have the same Climate or experience.

But if you’re interested in saving money on your electricity bill and remaining comfortable then hopefully you can get some use from these suggestions.

Why is My House so Humid with the AC On?

Why is my house so humid with the AC on? If the air conditioner is not reducing at least a little bit of humidity in the home, then you know there is an issue somewhere. And finding out what that issue is is hopefully not too difficult. Following is a few of the most common issues when the humidity is overtaking the AC.

AC is cooling but not removing humidity

One of the most common reasons that the air continues to feel humid when the AC is running is that the thermostat is s set on “on’ instead of “auto”.

1.AC fan mode

When the AC fan mode on the thermostat is on the “on” position, it continues to run after the compressor has shut down.

What does that have to do with the house feeling humid?

Because as a air conditioner is cooling the air it is also gathering the humidity from the air in the form of condensation on the refrigerant coils.

And then when the air conditioner cycles off, the moisture gathered on the condenser coils drains into a drip pan and either continues through a drain line outside or is pumped outside with a condensate pump.

But when the AC fan mode is set on the “on” position, the condensation that has gathered on the refrigerant coils doesn’t get a opportunity to drip off. Instead it is blown by the fan which is causing it to evaporate back into the ductwork.

Which means that even though it is gathering the moisture out of your air as the air conditioner is running, it is circulating it back around your house while the AC compressor has cycled off.

Try turning the AC to “auto mode” and seeing if the air starts to feel less humid.

Humidity goes up when the AC is on

2. Foam insulation

Another reason build a home can feel extra humid with the AC on is the type of insulation that is used in the Attic.

Foam insulation is notorious what causing the Attic to be extra humid.

Heat and moisture from the attic can
make its way into your duct system a few different ways.

3. Leaky ducts

If your ductwork has got any leaks, it can be pulling hot humid air from the attic into your ductwork and then into your home.

4. Kitchen fans

If the powered vents above your range are extra strong, they could be pulling air from the attic.

When the Attic is the source of the humidity that is circulating in your home , there’s a couple of things you can do to alleviate the problem.

1. Have your attic inspected make sure that it is sealed properly.
2. Have you heard ductwork checked for leaks.
3. Run a dehumidifier in the Attic.
4. Reroute the ductwork so that the Attic is air conditioned along with the rest of the house.

House feels damp with AC on

A.Heat rises

Sometimes you might find that the reason your house is feeling humid is the layout of the house itself.

If you have a two or three story house and the top floors feel extra humid compared to the bottom floor then your air handler is not equipped to handle the downstairs and upstairs equally.

You may find that you need to run a dehumidifier upstairs to help your air conditioner run easier and do a much better job at controlling the climate inside your house.

B. Room is muggy

Many times it’s not the whole house that feels muggy with the AC on. It could be relegated to just one or two rooms.

The most obvious solution is that the ductwork that specific room is leaking and mixing the humidity from the attic for crawl space with the air coming into the room.

5.Ductwork design

If the ductwork is not zoned correctly or if additional vents have been added to the zones, the rooms were they additional vents have been added may not get the same level of dehumidification that the AC provides to the rest of the house.

Some rooms like basements do not even have AC ducts ran to them. Proximity to the moist ground is usually the culprit for high humidity in the basement.

Running a dehumidifier is a great way to dry out the basement and make it useful and livable.

Recap

Does your house feel extra humid when the AC is on?

And air conditioner is made to dehumidify the air as it is cooling. One of the primary ways it cools the air is by reducing the moisture in the air.

So when your ear feels extra humid with the AC on, it is definitely not a natural cause.

What are the main reasons a house will feel muggy when the air conditioner is on is that the humidity that the AC is supposed to be reducing is being redistributed throughout the house.

This can happen when the AC fan mode is switch to the on position so that the fan is running continuously when the AC compressor has cycled off.

” AC auto mode” is the setting on the thermostat to use to ensure that the humidity gathered on the condenser coils drains rather than being evaporated and redistributed around the house.

Another culprit for humidity getting into the house with the AC on is leaky ducts. If your ductwork has leaks in it, then the humid air inside of the attic can leak inside of your home through your ductwork.

Another reason that the home feels muggy with the AC on could be the layout of the house. If for instance, the house is a two-story house, the top level may feel extra humid simply because heat rises.

A easy fix that will not only reduce the humidity on the second floor as well as aid the air conditioner is a dehumidifier.

Do it yourself AC Coil Cleaner

Difference Between Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier

What is the difference between a air conditioner and a dehumidifier?

The difference between an air conditioner and a dehumidifier is where the warm air and condensation that the unit is generating are dispelled.

Air conditioners dispel the heat and moisture outside of the house and a dehumidifier dispels the heat and moisture inside of the house. (Though most modern dehumidifiers have a port to drain the water with a garden hose to a sink or outside)

Mechanically they are very much the same. Both have a hot side and a cold side.

The difference is how they are used.

And the air conditioner is primarily used to cool down a room. So the hot side of the air conditioner is outside.

A dehumidifier is used to reduce the moisture in the air. Instead of dispersing the hot air outside of the room, it releases it back into the room.

Releasing the hot air back into the room helps the dehumidifier continue to draw out more humidity from the air.

Do dehumidifiers cool a room?

A dehumidifier is not made to cool a room. Though indirectly it will help the room feel more comfortable because of the reduction of humidity.

But remember the heat generated from the dehumidifier is being released back into the room as it is dehumidifying.

And though the heat may not be significant because of the lack of moisture in the air now that the dehumidifier is running, there is still going to be an increase in the temperature.

Do dehumidifiers help with heat?

Dehumidifiers do help with heat in directly because they reduce the moisture in the air that is perceived as heat.

But you should know that the room that the dehumidifier is being used in is not going to be cooler.

How much heat does a dehumidifier create?

Think about it this way. If you were to take a window air conditioner and sit in the middle of the room, one side of the air conditioner would be cool and the other side would be hot.

With a dehumidifier, you’re only getting the hot.

Dehumidifiers are meant to reduce the humidity in the home more as a way to reduce the effect of moisture on the structure of the house and as a preventative for mold growth then they are as a way manage the climate in the house.
The fact that a dehumidifier can make the room feel more comfortable is more like a happy side-effect.

Air conditioner as a dehumidifier

Does AC dehumidify?

An air conditioner also dehumidifies the air as it is operating. Part of the way it is able to cool the air is it is pulling moisture out of the air and draining it outside.

Air conditioning is infinitely better as a dehumidifier because it not only cools the house as it is dehumidifying, it disperses the hot air outside and drains the condensation in the outside as well.

Many central air conditioners come with a dry mode setting to be able to dehumidify a room without cooling it when the outdoor temperature is more muggy than hot.

Is dry mode more economical?

Dry mode consumes much less energy than cool mode on the AC because it runs the compressor at about half-speed.

Does a dehumidifier use a lot of electricity?

Dehumidifiers are known energy hogs.

If you look at it a breakdown aware most of your energy cost are going,
It is to the main appliances like the refrigerator and the HVAC that use compressors.
99% of dehumidifiers on the shelf run off of a compressor. So you can expect your electric bill to show a small increase when you run the dehumidifier.

is it cheaper to run an AC or dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier uses only about a tenth of the electricity that an air conditioner uses. An standard AC runs full on and then off as the temperature is reached.
And then restarts when the temperature rises above the temperature designated on the thermostat. This repeated cycle results in an enormous amount of energy consumed and a very high energy bill. See Inverter AC

A dehumidifier doesn’t cycle off and on like a AC which keeps the cost much lower than an AC.

But though the air conditioner is a dehumidifier, its primary use is to cool down the air so it doesn’t reduce the humidity in the air as much as a dedicated dehumidifier.

Also air conditioning is typically not ran to the basement or crawl spaces.

And those are two of the main spots you need a dehumidifier to reduce moisture.

Portable air conditioner as a dehumidifier?

If an air conditioner and a dehumidifier are mechanically the same, does that mean I can use a portable air conditioner as a dehumidifier?

It does sound great in theory, but a portable air conditioner does not drain condensation like a dehumidifier.

The condensation of a portable AC basically spits out through the rear show the unit and drips of a drainage hole.

Collecting the water so that it is not become part of the humidity problem that you’re trying to resolve is not easily solved.

Unfortunately when it comes to portable air conditioners and portable dehumidifiers, they are not interchangeable.

Though in many cases they are combined into one unit.

Recap

Dehumidifiers and air conditioners are very closely related and mechanically run nearly the same.

The main difference is or how they expel the heat and condensation that they generate.

The AC dispels the heat and condensation outside and a dehumidifier dispels the heat and condensation inside.

But how they are used and what they are used for is the real difference.

Air conditioning is used to cool off a room. De-humidification just happens to be part of that process.

Dehumidifiers are not made to cool off a room but to reduce moisture.

Though running an AC can help reduce the humidity in a room, a portable dehumidifier will do much more to reduce moisture and can go
into areas where there is no air conditioning like the moldy basement and crawl space.

Dehumidifiers also do not cool of a room directly and in fact will make a room temperature rise.

What is an Air Conditioner Inverter?

What is an Inverter AC?

A inverter AC is a air conditioner is an that is equipped with an inverted modulated compressor. An inverter changes the output of the compressor from direct to alternating current allowing for the AC to run at variable speeds continually, according to what is needed, rather than full power on or off.

Advantages of inverter AC

The advantages of inverter AC are many.

Among the top are the capacity of a inverter Air Conditioner to rapidly cool a room and keep the temperature steady and more evenly distributed.
Inverter AC continually monitors and regulates the temperature in the room.

Inverter AC uses a significantly less amount of energy than a standard AC
and does a much more efficient job.

And because the compressor never turns on and off on a inverter AC, the wear and tear is much less making breakdowns much lower than on a standard air conditioner.

But…

Disadvantages of an inverter air conditioner

The main disadvantage of a inverter air conditioner is the upfront cost.

The price is not only much higher for an inverter air conditioner, the cost of maintenance and repairs can also be very expensive.

Additionally, homes and buildings that use a inverter AC must be insulated very well for the savings better expected by switching to an Inverter will not be that noticeable.

Something to think about.

Pros and Cons of Inverter AC

[wptb id=4222]

Inverter vs non inverter AC power consumption

The difference empower consumption between a inverter and a non inverter AC is pretty remarkable.

If you typically pay $100 a month to run a normal AC, you can expect to pay as little as $55 to $60 for inverter air conditioning.

And if your home is very well-insulated, you can expect to pay less.

What is dual inverter AC?

Dual inverter AC is the second generation of inverter AC.

And it is exactly what it sounds like. An AC with two inverters.

The advantage of adding a second inverter decreases the noise and vibration from a single inverter system.

It also exponentially decreases the amount of energy that is needed to cool down and regulate the temperature in a room.

Exciting and more exciting.

If dual was not enough, triple inverter AC’s have already begun to make there presence known.

Should you jump on the inverter AC bandwagon?

It really comes down to the amount of AC you need.
If you live in a area where the climate is very hot, then the extra cost up front is well worth it.

And the extra expense can be seen as a investment that will eventually pay you back and more.

But if you live in mild climate in the air conditioner only gets ran a few months of the year, then the Energy savings will not be nearly enough to justify the high price.

But stick around awhile and you will probably be seeing the price of inverter AC’s drop. After all, with the trend already moving into triple inverters, how can the single inverter AC possibly compete?

Recap

An AC Inverter changes the output of a ac compressor from direct current to alternating current.

That changes the compressor from “on/off” cycling to variable speed cycling.

What’s the difference? A lot.

An inverter AC uses much less energy because it never completely shuts down.
On the flip side , a standard AC consumes a huge amount of energy because of the operating method of fully powering on then fully powering off to maintain the temperature designated on the thermostat.
An inverter AC keeps the temperature the same and more evenly distributed. Because the compressor on a inverter air conditioner speeds up and slows down with the fluctuation of the temperature, the temperature never has a chance to change.
A standard AC powers off when the temperature is reached then powers on when the temperature exceeds the desired output.

The down side of inverter AC’s is the upfront cost. Though the back end savings may be well worth it according to your overall AC needs, the savings may not be worth it if you do not live in a climate that dictates the heavy use of an air conditioner.

The price of repairs is also accordingly higher.

And additionally you will need to ensure that your house is insulated very well to see the promised savings to your energy bill.

But that is today’s market. As inverter AC’s become more widely used and the market becomes more competitive, the price will come down.

Actually the future of air conditioning is looking pretty grand. As dual inverters and triple inverters become the norm, and air conditioning is integrated with air quality more as a standard,
Air conditioning should be much cheaper as well as being much healthier and efficient.

AC Unit Freezing Up In Summer

Irony. That may too kind of a word for it.
The hottest time of the year and the air conditioner is not working. Right when you need it the most. But the AC unit freezing up in summer is not unusual.

Why is the AC freezing up in hot weather?

The AC needs two things to make sure it’s able to cool down your house properly. Good airflow and the proper level of refrigerant.
When the days get hotter, the thermostat tends to get adjusted to a lower setting which makes the AC work harder.

Ice forming on AC coils?

Ice forming on the AC coils is a symptom of a unmaintained air conditioning unit that is working harder because of the temperature getting Hotter outside.

If you see ice forming on your air conditioner, it not only means that your air conditioner is not going to be able to do its job, they can also result and costly in repairs. So it is important not to let the problem linger.

What causes an AC unit to freeze up?

1. Dirty filters

Number one on the list. Dirty filters.
When you have any kind of issue with your air conditioner, the first thing to check is if the air filters have been neglected and need changed.

A Dirty or clogged filter restricts the amount of air that is able to flow across the AC coils. When there is not enough hot air moving across the coils, the refrigerant is so cold, the condensation on them freezes.
Keeping the air filters changed at least every 2 to 3 months is the easiest way to keep your unit working properly.

2.Vent registers

Other restrictions in the air flow can result from closing supply and return vents. If the AC is freezing up, making sure all the vent registers are open and not being covered will help the air flow also.

3. Low Refrigerant

A unit that is low on refrigerant will cause the AC coils to freeze over to.

If cleaning the filters and opening the vents does not get the air conditioner functioning again then it could be a refrigerant leak.

A technician can tell you whether or not you need freon in your system.
But remember did the air conditioner is not made to have to be recharged.
Recharging the refrigerant may help you get through the year but you will probably need to do it again every year to you get the leak fixed.

How to tell if AC is Frozen?

How can you tell if the air conditioning coils are frozen over?

1. The easiest thing is the turn off the air conditioner and let it run on “fan mode” for a while.
If you turn it on after a couple of hours and cool air comes out again. Bingo, you have discovered that your AC is Freezing.
2. Check and see if there’s any water coming out of the drain line. A properly functioning AC will have a continuous drip from the drain line. If it’s frozen, it won’t drip.
3. You can visibly see ice on the outside of the unit. Check the insulated pipes running out of the AC also. If the AC is Frozen, you’ll likely see ice formed there to.

AC Frozen – how long to defrost?

How long you have to let your AC defrost depends on the the amount of ice that has formed on your coils.
45 minutes is a good spot to try your AC and see if it’s cooling again.
In the meantime, make sure your filters are clean and your registers are open and not blocked or your AC will probably freeze over again pretty fast.
Especially if not all the ice has thawed.

How to unfreeze AC unit fast

1. Fan mode
Set the thermostat to Fan On mode.
Letting the AC run on Fan will blow warm air across the coils and help the ice and refrigerant thaw out faster.

2. Hair dryer

You can use a hair dryer to help it’s all out a little faster. You sure you completely turn off your unit at the breaker box first. If you need the ice gone quicker than letting it thaw out.
Using a hair dryer can help you fill it out a little faster. Be sure you don’t try to step it up to a torch or heat gun. You definitely don’t want to do any damage to your machine.

Can I pour hot water on frozen air conditioner?

3. Pouring hot or warm water over the ice coils outside is it perfectly good way to thaw out the coils faster.

But be sure to turn the AC off at the breaker box.
The water inside the garden hose is usually warmer in the summer to.
And gives you a good reason to clean and remove any debris from the outside of the unit while you’re at it.

AC unit freezing up at night

When your AC is freezing up at night, it is most likely the fact that the temperature is getting to cool at night to keep warm moving across the AC coils.
Even in Summer, the days can be miserably hot while the night air puts a chill in your bones.
Turning the thermostat up at night should help keep the air warm enough to keep your AC from freezing at night.

Remember the AC filter is the place to look first. If it is clogged, the air will not move across the coils fast enough regardless of whether it’s day or night, summer or fall.

Wrap up

what causes an evaporator coil to freeze?

The most common issue with the AC evaporator coils to freeze is poor air flow.
If the air filters have not been replaced recently, then that is more than likely the problem.
Another air restriction that can aid in the AC freezing over is closing the supply and return vents.
Make sure all the vents are open and that there’s nothing blocking them.

Low refrigerant is also a possibility when the AC is freezing over. Low refrigerant in an air conditioner is a sure indicator that you have a leak in the system.
Getting a licensed AC tech to find the leak, fix it, and recharge the unit is the best path to take.

Air Conditioner Leaking Water Inside

Why is my air conditioner leaking water inside?

There’s not too many things more stressful then to see water leaking through your ceiling. And when it comes to the central heat and air unit in the Attic, it’s easy to imagine that it’s going to cost an arm and a leg to fix it.

But if you catch it fast enough there’s a good chance that you can get to it before it becomes a major issue.

And though it may sound daunting, there is only a few things that it could actually be causing the AC to leak inside of the house.

But first you need to turn the air conditioner off. Then you were going to need to resolve the issue as quickly as possible so you can avoid any more damage to your ceiling or walls.

Reasons your AC may be leaking

1. Dirty Air Filter

Dirty AC filters are the first thing you should look for in just about every instance when your air conditioning is not working right. For the AC to work efficiently, it has to have good airflow. When the air filters are clogged, that can’t happen.

Dirty air filters can also cause your air conditioning to leak inside of the house.
Why? Because when the warm air cannot flow easily across the cooling coils, it causes the condensation to freeze.

When the Frozen coils thaw out, because water to drip more heavily than normal.

You might be amazed by the amount of HVAC service calls that are solved by simply replacing AC filter.

What is a dirty furnace filter look like?

How often should the furnace filter be changed?

You should change your AC / Furnace Filter at least every 2-3 Months. A Free Flow of Air is the Lives Blood of your Heating and Air Unit. Keeping clean filters in your AC and Furnace unit is the easiest thing to do to keep your Unit working well for a very long time.

2. AC drain pan leaking

The AC drain pan is the part of the air conditioner that captures the condensate from the cooling coils.
From the drain pan, the water travels out of the house through the condensate drain line.

But if the drain pan is crack or rusted through, the water will simply leak out on to the other components of the air conditioning and eventually the floor beneath. Which is the ceiling in the room below the air conditioner.

Flex seal AC drip pan

If the damage to your AC drain pan is not too extensive, then there are ways to fix it without having to replace it.
Flex seal is the product known for its ability to create a water-tight seal.

Fixing your air conditioning drain pan could be as easy as spraying flex seal in it to patch it up.

Otherwise you’re looking at replacing it.

3. Clogged condensate drain line

All air conditioners create moisture as by product of pulling warm air across the cooling coils. That moisture turns to liquid and exits the house via a condensate drain line. If the drain line gets clogged, then the water will back up and eventually drip out to article floor. Which is the ceiling in the room below it.

Using a shop Wet/ Dry Vac to vacuum the line at exit outside is the easiest way to remove the obstruction.
Vacuuming is the easiest way to get it clear but it may not be the best solution on the long haul.
The best solution is to keep it clean and maintain so you do not have a problem with the drain getting clogged.

Clean AC drain line vinegar

The trick to this is actually very easy, with a funnel, pour about 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar into the drainage pipe at least once a year when the air conditioner is ready to fire up again.

4. Condensate pump leaking

Many drain lines rely on gravity to transport the condensate from the air conditioner outside of the house. But in some cases that is just not possible, for instance some HVAC sore in the basement which is below the main floor line.

In this type of situation a condensate pump is needed to pump the water from the AC outside.

If the condensate pump is not working or leaking , it is not going to be able to transport the moisture outside and the result will be water overfilling the drain pan and leaking inside your home.

5. Low refrigerant

Low refrigerant levels will make the cooling coils freeze over. When they fall out, generally leave a puddle around your unit. If you suspect it could be the refrigerant there are other signs you can look for.

Symptoms of low freon in central air conditioner

The filter is clean but the coils are still frosting up and freezing
The temperature is not reaching the assigned thermostat setting.
Warm air is coming from vents.

How much water should drain from my air conditioner?

The amount of water draining from your air conditioner could be up to 20 gallons a day in a super humid climate.
Or as low as 3 gallons in a dry climate.
In other words, the humidity in your area has a great deal do with how much condensation your AC is gathering.

The main point though is that it is draining. You should see a constant flow of water coming from your drain line.

If your air conditioner does not have a regular flow of water then you probably have a clogged drain line and you’ll need to address it immediately.

How much water should be in the AC drip pan?

The drip pan should not have standing water in it. If there is standing water in your AC drip pan, then you have a clogged drain line. a clogged drain line will eventually lead to water leaking inside of your house.

Air conditioner drain pan keeps filling up?

If your air conditioner drain pan keeps filling up, you have a clogged drain line.
The drain pan is connected to the condensate drainage line. Any water that drips into the AC drain pan should immediately exit through the drain line.
If your drain pan keeps filling up, you need to vacuum out any obstruction and maintenance the drain line so that it does not obstruct the moisture exiting the AC.

Window AC Leaking Water Outside

All air conditioners drip water. It’s the nature of the beast. Condensation is a part of the refrigeration process of cooling down a room and dehumidifying it at the same time. An AC that is not producing condensation is not working properly.

Window AC Leaking water Outside.

When an air conditioner is working right, it is creating condensation as it cools down the air.

The condensation has to have a place to go and on a window AC that is either through a small drain hole located on a back corner of the air conditioner or a drainage plug which drains outside.

The problem comes along when the water is not draining outside but inside the house.

Air conditioner leaking water inside

Window air conditioners are designed to drain out the rear of the unit, outside of the window.

If you your window AC
Is dripping water inside the house, then there can only be a handful of things that could possibly be.

Here is a few tips to help you diagnose your leaky AC situation.

1. Poor installation

The window air conditioner is meant to be installed, tilted slightly to the rear. That is simply so that the condensation will follow the path of the bottom of the air conditioner and drip out the back.

If the window AC is level or tilted towards the front of the unit, the moisture will follow the path of the bottom of the air conditioner to the front of the air conditioner.

Eventually it is going to find a place to leaked out into the inside of the house.

Easy fix- tilt the AC back. You can add a shim to the front if you need a way to keep it tilted.

2. Not properly sealed.

If the warm air that is supposed to be expelled out the back begins to get into the house around the window AC. Condensation can begin to gather around the casing inside of a house.
Then just like a glass of ice water, it will begin to build up and eventually drip.

Easy fix #2. Weather strip around the AC.

3. Drain is Completely clogged.

If your drain hole is completely clogged, condensation water can build up to a point that it has to escape somewhere.

Easy fix #3. Clean out the drain hole. Take it even further and hose down the rear of the unit. Be sure to get between the grills to wash out anything that could be stopping up your drain hole.

Window AC not dripping water

If you find yourself on the other end of the spectrum and your window AC is just not dripping any water, that is a definite red flag and you need to address it before it becomes an physical actual problem.

If you have a window AC that is not dripping water, then the drainage hole is clogged up. It’s important to get it unclogged because the water is going to have to find some place to go. And that could mean out the front into your home and onto your floor or carpet.

Refer to Fix #3

Is water leaking from the air conditioner dangerous?

The water leaking from the air conditioner is condensation which on its own would not be considered dangerous at all. But since it is following a path where there could be a build-up of mold and algae and other debris, drinking AC condensation water is probably not a good idea unless it is ran through a purifier.
But since it already is running out on the grass, it is probably safe to say that air conditioning condensation water is not dangerous for plants.

Is the water leaking from the window AC damaging?
Yes water leaking from your AC can cause damage to your walls and ceiling.
Not only can it damage your drywall it can become mold growing inside of your walls.

It’s safe to say that keeping an eye out for how your AC is draining is one of the easiest ways to avoid problems with your air conditioning.

Air Conditioner Not Blowing Cold Air?

Have you ever turned on your air conditioner and it’s just not blowing cold like you think it should?

Or maybe it starts off cold but turns warm only after a few minutes?

Did you know that most problems to do with the air conditioning are actually very easy to troubleshoot.

Of course there are things that can go wrong that can be out of the range of fixing or replacing yourself.

But when the AC is not blowing cold air, it’s usually only one of a few things.

Air conditioner not cold? Here’s a few simple reasons that could be.

1. Clogged filter(s)

The first thing to check and by far the most common problem is the filter or filters being too dirty to allow for good airflow.

This is a problem that affects the cooling and the heating both in central heat and air systems.

Many a HVAC tech has been called to a residence to diagnose a air conditioning not getting cold problem only to find that the filters are clogged.

The first and easiest thing you can do to get your air conditioning cooling again is to make sure that the filters are clean and the grill outside of the filters is dusted off and clean to.

2. Thermostat settings

The thermostat on a home air conditioner has to settings that run the fan. One setting is the On sitting and the other is the auto mode setting.
The auto setting turn the fan on as the AC is cooling. The On setting runs the fan continuously even when the AC is not on.
Another reason that the AC may not be blowing cold air is that the cooling is off and the fan is set to On.

Not only will the air not be cool that is coming through the vents, it will probably be a little warm since most AC HVAC units are installed in the Attic.

Easy fix number 2. Make sure the thermostat is set to cool and Auto.

3. Covered in debris.

The third thing to check is that the outdoor unit of your AC is clean and clear of debris. If you outside of the machine is covered in debris or weeds, the warm air that is supposed to expel from the unit outside will not be able to escape and will stay inside. Sending warm air through your vents and eventually overheating.

4. Humidity

Humidity and air conditioners do not get along. when the humidity is High inside of the house you can feel like the air conditioner is not running at all.
Unfortunately the fix for this not something you can easily do with a little extra cleaning.
If the humidity is so hard that it is overpowering the air conditioner, a dehumidifier is a machine that can pull the moisture out of the air and allow your air conditioning to function normally again.
Some central heat and air units come with a setting called “dry mode”.
Dry mode is essentially a dehumidifier built into your air conditioner.

5. Frozen up

Finally a problem that can be solved on your own to a certain extent is if the AC is freezing over.

The way the air conditioning cools down your home is it takes the warm air come inside of your home and lose it across refrigerated cooling coils. Then sends the air back into your home.

This is a problem that relates to the other steps in this short guide.

First you’re going to have to take a look at the unit outside to see if it’s frozen.
Sometimes it will be frozen enough that you can see it from the outside. Usually you’re going to have to take off the access panel and see if the copper coils are iced over.

If they are, you’re going to have to let it thaw out. You can run the fan without the AC and it will help thaw the unit little faster.

Why is your AC freezing over?

The Air conditioner relies on the are being able to flow freely across the cooling coils. If there is something obstructing we are in keeping it from moving across the coils easily, it can freeze over.

Easy fix. Change the filters, clean the grill outside of the filters, and clean any debris off of the outside of the outdoor part of a unit.

Another thing that relates to an air conditioner freezing up is humidity.
Too much humidity in the air can make the air flowing across the cooling coils to moist and produce ice as its going through.

Sorta easy fix. Run the dehumidifier or the AC on dry mode to reduce the humidity in the air and help keep the air conditioning from freezing over.

Window AC not blowing cold air

Window air conditioners work much the same way as a home AC but in a much smaller condensed package.

When the window AC is not blowing cold air, it usually boils down to one or two issues.

1. The filter is clogged. When do you filter which is located on the face of the window AC gets clogged, the air conditioner will have a very hard time cooling off the room.

On most window AC the filter is very easy to pull out from the side or open the grill and pull it out that way.
A lot of very tiny dust particles can get lodged in the filter that are not easily seen with the naked eye. So be sure to take a stiff brush and brush it out very well before putting it back in.

If you wash the filter with water, be sure to let it dry good before putting it back in and running the AC because of the risk of mold taking root.

Window air conditioner blows cold then warm

If the window air conditioner gets too dirty the airflow begins to be an issue.

When the unit cannot get proper airflow it will start to shut down and go into a mode where it is running but not cooling.

Also the back of the air conditioner must be completely clear and not up against anything it will cause the hot-air that is supposed to expel out of the rear to not do so.

Taking apart a window air conditioner and cleaning it thoroughly, preferably by blowing it out rather than wiping, will do wonders to help restore your machine and get it blow cold air again.

And be sure to make sure that there is nothing obstructing the rear of the window AC that would keep the heat exiting like it should.

Window air conditioner keeps turning off.

A window AC usually has a reset button located where are the plug is. If the unit doesn’t come on at all, nine out of 10 times the reset button needs to be pressed before it will come on.

Window air conditioner panel not working

What if your window AC keeps going off and it is not tripping the breaker or the reset, there is a chance that your air conditioner panel is going out.

The thermostat panel on a window air conditioner is a fairly inexpensive part most dad’s will be able to fix on their own.

Luckily, there is a wide range of YouTube videos to take you through each step if needed.

How To Make Paint Dry Faster – 8 Methods

Painting is one of the easiest and fastest ways to renovate the your house. Inside or out. A new coat of paint will do wonders for any number of projects.

But painting is not something that is usually meant for the impatient.
There are quite a few steps to doing a good job painting, prepping, sanding, taping, and each one takes a level of patience to get right.

And taking your time to cut in corners and around trim and flooring, all require a resolve to get it right at the outset.
So when you can find a shortcut or something to help the process along, it is truly welcomed.

How to make paint dry faster

1. Primer

Adding a coat a primer before painting will speed up the painting process immensely. A good primer will cut the amount of paint layers it takes two cover down as much as 4 -5 times.

2. Prep with light sanding.

Nothing slows down a paint job faster than the paint peeling off. Many surfaces like cabinetry and tables, though they may not even look like it any more, have a clear coating to make them shine.
If the surface that is being painted is smooth or has a smooth coating, then taking a minute to scuff it up with some like sandpaper will save you hours of redoing it.

3. Quick-drying paint

Choosing the right paint for the project will speed up the time it takes for paint to dry considerably.
There are paints available that adhere to almost anything and dry much faster than buying the cheapest can on the shelf.
The quality of paint that you choose will not only help speed up the process it will help ensure that you do not have to repeat the process sooner than you would like.

4. Lighter layers

One of the fastest ways to get paint to dry faster is to use less. Painting on a light layer will dry much faster than trying to get it to cover all at once.
Multiple light layers will look a lot more even also and help to avoid globs and drips.

5. Fans and Ventilation

Getting the fans going and the windows open while you’re painting is one of the easiest ways to get the paint to dry faster. It may seem like no brainier but there’s a lot to think about when you’re painting.

6. Room Temperature

There’s a reason why people paint the outside of their house in the summer.
If the temperature is too cool, it will take a much longer time for the paint to dry. When the temperature is below around 50 degrees, using a space heater will not only help warm the room up, it will also help dry the paint faster to.

7. Hair dryer

Using a hair dryer to help along the time it takes paint to dry is a great way to expedite the project as long as you do it right.

Make sure that you keep the hair dryer moving back and forth across a small section. Leaving it in one place can cause the paint to bubble.

A heat gun will also do the trick. but remember a heat gun is much hotter than a hair dryer and will burn or crackle the paint way faster than a hair dryer.

8. Avoid Humidity

If you’re painting on a rainy day, you can expect the moisture in the air to slow down the drying process on the paint considerably.
If you can’t wait for a dryer day then there are some things you can do to help remove the humidity from the room.
A lot of modern air conditioners have a dry mode on them. Dry mode on an air conditioner is essentially a dehumidifier that will help dry out the air in a room and help you or paint dry much faster.
If you don’t have dry mode on your air conditioner, running the AC on low can also have a dehumidifier effect.
And if you happen to have a dehumidifier nearby then all the better!

How to make spray paint dry faster

The Dry Time on spray paint is usually pretty fast depending on the paint and how much you put on. Getting your spray paint to dry faster is pretty easy as long as you follow a few general rules:

1. Light coats

Light coats are essential when you’re using spray paint. They are not only required to give your paint job and even look, spraying multiple light coats of spray paint is much faster than heavy globbing. And it will reduce the need to sand off the heavy drips afterwards.

2. Fans, space heaters, ventilation

The air has to be moving for the paint to dry faster. So using a fan or a space heater can help move the project along.

But you have to remember that spray paint is a fine mist, so make sure to use it in an area where it doesn’t mist anything that you do not want painted around you. For example, your dad’s Chevrolet.

3. Dehumidify

Humidity and paint are not two things that work well together.

Your spray paint job will go a lot faster if you pick a dry warm day to do it on.
If that’s not a possibility, then there are different appliances they can help with dehumidifying.

Running an air conditioner on low can have a dehumidifier effect and some air conditioners even have a dry mode on them that acts like a dehumidifier.
What is A dehumidifier?
A Dehumidifier is an appliance that specifically removes moisture from the air. If you find that your painting room is generally too moist, A dehumidifier would probably be a great buy.

Final Thoughts

Painting is one of those jobs that can have a quick wonderful effect on any number of objects including your house or furniture.

But even though painting is relatively quick compared to doing many other renovation projects, it still takes time and a level patience to do a skilled job.

The time it takes for paint to dry can also drive you crazy when you’re in the middle of a project.

How to get paint to dry faster. Knowing a few tips to help your paint cure faster can help eliminate a lot of the frustration it comes along with a painting project.

Does Running Furnace Fan Cool House?

Does running furnace fan cool house?

Because the location of the furnace is usually in the attic, and the fact that the attic is the hottest area in the house, you can expect the air coming out of the vents from the furnace fan to be on the warm side rather than cool.

Running furnace fan continuously in summer

Using the HVAC furnace fan continuously in the summer can be a good Idea for a few reasons.

First the ductwork is not only the system that delivers warm and cool air throughout the house, it is also the system that filters the air throughout the house.

Particulates like pollen and pet dander, as well as mold spores and bacteria can be much worse indoors than outside even in industrial areas.

Keeping the fan on your furnace and AC running is one way to combat indoor air quality issues.

HVAC filters are not the only air cleaners that can be employed with the ductwork.
Many people take advantage of in duct air purifiers that use technologies like plasma bipolar ionization.

These air purifiers require that the blower stay on 24/7 to be able to clean the air efficiently.

Running furnace fan continuously in winter

One reason it is a good idea to keep the furnace fan running continuously in winter is that heat rises.
Keeping the fan on will circulate the air throughout the house and keep the temperature more even across the house.

When the thermostat is set to auto, the fan automatically turns off after the temperature is reached.
But since there is nothing to keep the heat moving around down low, it will automatically rise and leave cool spots in the house.

Houses with multiple stories are especially prone to this problem.
The bottom level of the home can get chilly why all the upstairs gets hot.
Keeping the fan on helps move the warm air through the house evenly.

Should I run my furnace fan continuously

Though the consensus is usually to set your furnace fan on auto because of what seems to be the obvious savings in in energy, the opposite, can actually be true as well.

As an example, when the blower fan is left on, the warm air generated by the furnace is circulated and keeps the temperature more consistent throughout the house, eliminating cool spots that would normally indicate to the thermostat to fire on.

Which takes more energy than a constant running fan.

Although there is the extra expense of replacing the filters more often, the trade off could be worth it.

Thermostat fan on or Auto in winter

Furnace fan on auto or circulate

The pros of leaving the thermostat fan on auto are:
Less expense upfront in the form of power consumption and fewer filter replacements.
The pros of leaving the thermostat are:
Keeping the heat rounded up more evenly throughout the house.
Cleaner air quality.

Should fan be on when heat is on?

The fan is the part of the furnace that pushes the warm air throughout the house. It stays on while the furnace is heating. if you want the fan to turn off when the heater is not running, you can set your thermostat to auto. If you prefer to have the fan running after the heater has turned off, then turn your thermostat to on.

furnace fan runs after heat shuts off

The simplest things to check when your furnace fan keeps running are:

Is the thermostat set to Auto or on?

Sometimes it’s the simplest things good make the biggest impact. The fan running all the time could be as easy as someone accidentally turning the fan to the on setting which will keep the fan running continuously.

Another one of the easiest things to check when you’re having any type of problem with your heat is the filters.

If it doesn’t seem like you were fan ever turns off, it could be that you are not able to get the room up to temperature
Because the filters are too dirty.

I would like to see the invoices over a year for a local HVAC technician that was able to fix a problem that someone was having by replacing the furnace filters.

It happens way more than you would think.

If the problem of the fan not turning off doesn’t fall within these simple tips, then there’s probably a malfunction in the thermostat or the fan motor.

Thermostats are pretty easy to replace but they do cost a little more.

Taking a chance on a guess the thermostat is going out maybe a little more than you’re willing to risk.

It’s probably time to call out the technician at this point.

Summary

Running the furnace fan continuously has many benefits like helping provide cleaner air to breathe and eliminating cool spots from the house.

But using the fan on the furnace to cool down the house it’s not something that is easily achievable because the furnace is usually in the Attic where the air is the hottest.

Many people will decide to keep their fan on auto because it creates less expense upfront.

But leaving the fan on continuously can help keep the temperature more even for longer periods of time so that the furnace doesn’t have to kick on as much.

That is also a way of thinking about it that will save you money.
But the are continuously blowing through the filters will mean that they will degrade faster and you will have to purchase more replacement filters throughout the year.

If your furnace fan runs after the heat shuts off,
Do a quick check to make sure that you’re not missing the easy solution first.
Which would be that the fan is set to the on position.

Another easy fix is replacing the filters if they have not been changed in a while.
When the filters are clogged, the air cannot get through and the furnace has a much harder time getting up to temperature.
Clearing the obstruction by replacing the filter maybe the answer you need.

AC Dry Mode -When to use it