Heat vs. Humidity: Which One Triggers Your Next AC Repair?

The South Texas cooling (heating) season is very short, and the cooling (air conditioning) season gets longer each year. Air conditioning provides relief from the high temperature and humidity that our region is known for. Life without AC would be very uncomfortable, so the more you understand about your system, the better you will be. Which is harder on your air conditioner—high humidity or high temperature? What components are affected by each of these pressures? Let’s take a look at some AC repair caused by humidity facts.

Heat, Humidity, and AC Repair: What You Need to Know

The air conditioner system consists of two general loops: a refrigerant loop, which deals with the high temperature, and the air loop, which deals with high humidity. These are very general statements, but follow along and see if this makes sense.

The Refrigerant Loop

Air conditioners and refrigeration equipment use a refrigerant compound that acts as a transportation device to move heat. Refrigerant changes state, depending on the temperature. When hot, it is in a gaseous state (like steam), and when it cools, it is in a liquid state (like water). Changing the state is accomplished by applying pressure or releasing pressure. When the pressure is released, it turns cold (about 400 Fahrenheit). The cold refrigerant collects heat from the house and moves it outside to be released. The refrigerant loop includes:

• A capacitor. The capacitor acts like a starter on an automobile. It produces an intense, quick charge to get the motors started instantly.
• A compressor. The compressor squeezes the refrigerant, taking it from approximately 40 psi to 400 psi, in some systems. This happens 24 to 36 times per day.
• A condenser unit (outdoors) that acts as a radiator to release the heat. The condenser is made of small tubes with very thin fins to dissipate heat. A large fan in the center of the condenser moves air over the condenser coil to cool it.
• Various control functions sense changes and call for various changes to be made during the cooling cycle.

These are some of the hardest-working components in the air conditioner system. They need to be cleaned regularly, especially the condenser unit, since a buildup of pollen and dust on the condenser coil will act as an insulation, preventing the heat from being released. Atmospheric heat shortens the useful life of the capacitor; repair technicians replace capacitors frequently. If the refrigerant is not cooled properly, it can cause the compressor to overheat, which often results in a catastrophic AC repair failure that requires the replacement of major components.

The Air Loop

In order to change the temperature and humidity inside the home, the inside air must encounter the coils of the refrigerant unit. A very efficient fan pulls the entire volume of air in the home across the evaporator coils several times during each cooling cycle. The cooled coil attracts the heat from the air, while the humidity condenses on the coil and drips down to a drain pan. The air loop components include:

• The air filter. The filter cleans dust, pollen, and other airborne particles from the air. Since the filters are efficient, the filter needs to be changed often. A clogged filter restricts airflow and interferes with cooling.
• The blower motor. The powerful blower motor drives a squirrel cage fan. This arrangement both pulls air from the home and pushes it back into the home. A belt or chain usually connects the motor and the fan. Both the motor and the belt are susceptible to wear. Dirty, clogged air filters cause particular stress on these components.
• The drain pan. As humidity is removed from the air, you find water in a dark, cool space. Add mold spores, and the drain pan becomes a perfect environment for mold growth. Mold and, occasionally, rust from the drain pan can block the tube that allows the water to drain away. The resulting leak creates a mess and potential damage to the flooring and finishes.

An important note: regular maintenance includes cleaning and checking all of these components that take a beating all summer long. Routine maintenance will also reduce costly AC repair caused by the high humidity of Texas Gulf Coast weather.

Protect Your Comfort and Prevent Costly AC Repair: Schedule Your Routine Maintenance Today

Don’t wait for the intense South Texas heat and humidity to push your system into a catastrophic failure. By scheduling an AC maintenance appointment today, our expert technicians can clean and inspect your hard-working components before they cause a major breakdown. Take control of your home comfort now and prevent a costly emergency AC repair this season. Call Northwind Air Conditioning and Heating today at 713-683-9474 to schedule your comprehensive preventive AC repair appointment today.