How High Humidity Strains Air Conditioning in Bellingham, MA

Your AC doesn’t have to be broken to still cause you trouble. Bellingham’s high humidity often causes issues such as low refrigerant levels, poor temperature retention, and higher bills. We know firsthand how air conditioning in Bellingham, MA, tends to face more issues than drier, more temperate climates. If you’re noticing your cooling system keeps short-cycling or can’t seem to cool your home fast enough, this guide is for you. You’ll learn how to spot subtle signs your AC is struggling so you can catch small problems before they become big bills.

What is Short Cycling?

Have you ever turned on your air conditioning, then wondered why it turned off too soon? This issue is called ‘short cycling’, referring to a system that has trouble staying on long enough to get your home nice and cool. While your cooling system turning off prematurely once in a while isn’t cause for alarm, it shouldn’t turn off more than a few times within the hour.

How High Humidity Levels Contribute to Short Cycling

Air conditioning in Bellingham, MA, has to deal with all the staples of a humid, continental climate. Higher humidity levels meeting drastic temperature changes result in a system that short cycles for reasons such as:

Poor Temperature Retention

Your AC’s thermostat lets it know when your home is cool enough to turn off again. However, high humidity can make your home feel too warm, even when it’s technically cooler. As such, your system might turn off before you’re comfortable, forcing you to turn it back on and go through the process all over again.

Strained Evaporator Coils

Without your evaporator coils, your air conditioning can’t convert warm air into cool air. These coils also do double duty by dripping excess moisture into a drain pan. When you’re dealing with a muggy Bellingham summer, though, your system has far more moisture than usual. Your AC will spend more of its capacity removing excess water than changing temperature (and even the temperature that does change, you can barely feel). This vicious cycle results in a system that works too hard for too little gain, prematurely wearing it out.

Worn Out Parts

Short cycling can actually hurt your cooling system over time by keeping it in a high-energy, high-stress state. This on-and-off pattern wears out your compressor or overheats your wires, shortening your system’s lifespan and costing you more money in repairs.

The Problems With Too Much Humidity

High humidity levels aren’t just uncomfortable. Constant moisture in your home can lead to smelly, even expensive, problems if left unchecked for months.

Higher Energy Bills

You’re likely reading this guide because you have higher energy bills and are trying to pinpoint the problem. While it may seem strange that short cycling can cause more energy use, it makes sense when you understand the strain it puts on your AC. Your air conditioning unit needs more energy than average to start up in the first place. When it’s constantly starting up, then shutting off again, that’s big bursts of energy that go nowhere fast.

Increased Risk of Mold

Mold spores are impossible to get rid of, though you can reduce them with regular ventilation and air filtration. They’re more likely to cause mold spots when they have three of their favorite ingredients: warm or cold temperatures, moisture, and time. A little increase in humidity here and there won’t do much, but long-term humidity can lead to unpleasant mold spots throughout the home.

Worsened Asthma Symptoms

If you live with asthma, high humidity likely causes more breathing issues than balanced or drier air. Heavy moisture tends to constrict a person’s airways, worsening the already delicate constitution of someone living with asthma. The moisture in humid air also worsens indoor air quality. These tiny droplets trap more airborne contaminants, which can further irritate your sinuses and airways. You can get ahead of humidity problems through lifestyle changes or new installations. For example, regular ventilation or installing a smart thermostat can help you keep humidity under control.

3 Main Signs of Evaporator Coil Problems

Why wait until you need a cooling repair job to start maintaining your air conditioning in Bellingham? You can take charge of your air conditioner’s health by spotting these early evaporator coil problems.

1. Unusually Dirty

If your evaporator coils are accumulating dark, sticky gunk, that’s usually due to humidity and dirty air filters. If your filters aren’t constantly trapping airborne contaminants like dust, dirt, and pollen, some of that residue can spill over into your coils.

2. Frozen Over

You can tell when your evaporator coil is frozen over by the white frost that builds up on its surface. This side effect may seem uncommon in warmer, muggier conditions, but it’s a common consequence of low refrigerant levels. Since an air conditioning unit struggles to cool efficiently in heavy humidity, you’re in the frustrating position of turning on the system over and over again. As such, your unit can run out of refrigerant prematurely if it runs too often and for too long.

3. Wet Spots

Noticing any large wet spots around your drain pain? That’s a classic sign of too much humidity. Your AC unit is attempting to trap moisture but failing, resulting in overflows or leaks. You don’t want to leave a wet spot unattended, as these areas are a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Think you might need air conditioning services in Bellingham, MA? Notturno’s experienced technicians are not only able to fix your system, but also stay five steps ahead of major problems through in-depth evaluations.

Maintain Your Air Conditioner’s Health With Notturno

We want you to enjoy more than just functioning air conditioning in Bellingham. You deserve to get your money’s worth with a system that makes your home feel cozy and keeps your energy bills low. If you need a place to start budgeting for your next appointment, check out our financing options and membership deals. We’re always happy to give our customers a great deal.

In the meantime, don’t wait until your air conditioner breaks down before taking action. Schedule one of our 82-point HVAC evaluations to make sure your system isn’t working too hard and wasting your money.