How Rain Affects Your HVAC System

Is rain affecting your HVAC system? For most homeowners, the answer is probably no. However, there are situations where rain can be a problem because of the way it's making your HVAC system perform. Excessive rainfall can also have a serious impact on the equipment itself. Read on to learn how.

Rain, High Humidity, and Your HVAC

Your HVAC system is key to controlling the relative humidity in your home. Moisture is drawn into the system in the return air, evaporating on the coils and then being channeled out of the home through the condensate drain. This method of dehumidifying the home usually works well unless the evaporator coils are dirty, the condensate drain becomes plugged, or the air filter is so dirty that airflow is slowed down and the AC stops running properly.

In times of excessive rainfall, relative humidity in your home may rise uncomfortably. You feel warmer and turn the air conditioner way up to compensate, thus wasting energy and money on utility bills.

Perhaps you have a roof leak or a plumbing leak, or perhaps the ground around your home is so saturated that it's affecting interior conditions. At these times, your AC may not be able to dehumidify effectively. It might be that you should also install a dehumidifier to help your AC keep up with the excess moisture.

Flooding and Your HVAC

If you live in an area prone to flooding and your HVAC system is in a low place, you've probably already figured out that you need to move it.

Otherwise, you may worry at times that heavy rainfall seems to cause deep ponding in your yard. If it seems like the water is rising at an alarming rate and might affect your HVAC, be advised that if it's just a few inches of water, it should be alright. Nevertheless, it's best to turn the power off, and if any flooding does occur, after your unit dries out, have an HVAC technician inspect it for damage.

For more on rain affecting your HVAC system adversely, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Did You Know That Plumbing Problems Can Affect Your HVAC Unit?

When you think of plumbing problems, a clogged kitchen sink or a dripping faucet are usually the sort of things that come to mind. However, did you know that plumbing issues can also be a factor in the operation of HVAC systems? Here are some examples of how plumbing is utilized in common residential cooling and heating components, as well as what might go wrong with these systems.

Central Air Conditioner

On a hot, humid summer day here in Oklahoma, the indoor evaporator coil in your central AC may extract more than 20 gallons of condensation from the air as an essential part of the cooling process. If everything’s functioning properly, all this water collects in a drip pan beneath the indoor air handler, then flows down a condensate drain line.

If a clog develops in the system — often a result of algae growth in the drip pan or some foreign object — the pan will overflow. Expensive water damage to the house can occur before you’re even aware of the problem.

High-Efficiency Furnace

High-efficiency furnaces — units with AFUE ratings of 90% or more — utilize a second stage to extract additional heat from exhaust gases. This process also condenses water vapor into a liquid that must be removed through a drain line that may discharge outdoors or into the house's drain system. Signs of plumbing problems include sudden unexplained pooling of water around the furnace.

What Can Be Done?

• To cure an overflowing AC, an HVAC technician will clear the clog in the condensate drain line as well as clean the drip pan beneath the air handler. Tablets that kill algae may also be placed in the drip pan to prevent the recurrence of clogs for the rest of the cooling season.

• If the furnace is leaking, the cause may be a clogged condensate drain line that triggers an overflow inside the unit or a leaky condensate drain pump. An experienced service tech can pinpoint the origin of the leakage and take steps to resolve the issue quickly.

For professional service to resolve plumbing problems that affect your cooling or heating system, contact Air Assurance.

How to Care for Your HVAC Condensor Fan Motor

The condenser is located in the outdoor unit of the HVAC system, along with the compressor and condenser coils. This HVAC condenser fan motor is key to the proper operation of the entire HVAC system, keeping the air conditioner cool as the fan motor turns the blades, blowing air across the condenser coil where the refrigerant is cooled from hot gas into a liquid. During this process, warm air from the house is exhausted outdoors.

It's important to keep the condenser from overheating or working too hard. Regular maintenance includes lubricating the fan and other parts at least once a year, before you turn the air conditioner on for the season.

Condenser Problems

Some of the main things that can go wrong with the condenser are these:

• Motor can go bad. If the motor is incorrectly sized in the unit, it is likely to malfunction.

• If the fan blades are not installed correctly, airflow may be impeded and the motor may overheat.

• An incorrect start run capacitor or incorrectly sized fan blade may cause a condition called overamping.

• Poor air flow can also result from obstructions near the unit, such as weeds, leaves, grass, shrubs and garden furniture. Clear all vegetation and debris away from the condenser so it can properly exhaust warm air.

• Dirty coils can prevent the unit from transferring warm air, which will result in inadequate cooling in the home. The coils should be cleaned annually.

• Refrigerant leaks can develop in the condenser and the lines leading to it. Insufficient refrigerant can result in inadequate cooling, as well as strain on the compressor, leading to breakdown.

To tell if your condenser fan motor is overheating, place your hand on the unit. You can also check the temperature of the condenser fan motor with a regular thermometer, but it's best to hire an HVAC professional with proper equipment to do the job.

For more on your HVAC condenser fan motor and other HVAC parts, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow. Call us to schedule repairs, maintenance or new installations; we've served Broken Arrow since 1985.

Different HVAC Types and Their Benefits

Driven to boost the efficiency levels in American homes and businesses, the HVAC industry over the last decade has revolutionized HVAC equipment so that it runs cleaner, more efficiently and delivers greater comfort than ever. If you're poised to replace your HVAC system and are planning to shop around among the various HVAC types, read this brief summary on the latest trends.

1. Forced Air/Central Air

The most common type of heating and cooling system, forced air/central air has come a long way. Air is heated or cooled and then delivered through a system of ducts, and distributed through various vents and registers. New technology has vastly improved this type of system, and includes condensing furnaces, modulating air handler fans, scrolling compressors, as well as smart thermostats so you can adjust the temperature when you're away.

2. Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are taking more market share in the cooling and heating industry, as their ability to heat in colder climates is improved. Heat pumps move warm air from the outdoors into the home to heat it, then move warm air from the home outside to cool it. Heat pumps are efficient and clean to run. They generally employ ductwork to distribute conditioned air. Some efficient features available for heat pumps are two- or variable-speed motors for air handlers; two-speed or scrolling compressors to regulate output and backup burners to boost the heat pump's ability to heat during cooler weather.

3. Ductless Mini Splits

As the name implies, ductless mini splits don't require ducts, bur distribute air through air handlers placed around the house. They are a kind of heat pump, so are efficient and clean to run. These are a good choice for a home that has never had ductwork installed.

4. Geothermal systems

Geothermal systems are heat pumps that move heat from the ground or water source into the home for heating and out of the home for cooling. The configuration of your property will be a factor in determining if you can accommodate a geothermal system.

For more on the various HVAC types, contact Air Assurance.