The thermostat may read cool but your home is still sticky? Or perhaps you have found the air conditioner to be on for longer than in days of yore. Water pooling by the indoor unit, a musty tinge to the air?

You would not be the only one with such issues. We at We Care A/C, Plumbing, & Electric are no stranger to humidity and the cooling troubles it brings; we see it in our work all over the Panhandle and Niceville. For a professional opinion, pick up the phone and call (850) 820-6710.

Proximity to the Gulf entails some of the country’s most humid air. An air conditioner is supposed to do more than just put down the temperature, yet the moisture here in the Panhandle can be hard on these systems. We have put together an account of what the typical problems are and how they impact your comfort.

Why Humidity Takes Its Toll on Your A/C

In essence your unit has two functions: to cool and to extract moisture. In Okaloosa or Santa Rosa County the latter is no small matter. The system will have to put in more effort to make your home comfortable when the air is thick with humidity.

An old or undersized piece of equipment, one that has not been well cared for, will not cope as well. Homeowners in Walton and Escambia Counties know the signs of this struggle from season to season.

Humidity-Related Problems You Will Encounter

Our technicians come across the following when there is too much moisture about:

• Clogged condensate drain lines. The water your A/C takes out of the air has to be channeled away. With high humidity there is more of it and the lines are prone to clogging with grime and algae, an invitation for overflow.
• Frozen evaporator coils. Low refrigerant or poor airflow allows the excess moisture to freeze up. You will get no cooling from a frozen coil until it thaws.
• Mold and the odors that go with it. Dampness in the system is where mildew makes itself at home and gets into the air.
• Short cycling. To contend with the humidity a system might be turning on and off with undue frequency, which is hard on parts and your energy bill.
• Clammy air indoors. Should your home remain humid with the A/C in operation, it is likely not doing its job of dehumidifying.
• A steeper energy bill. An overworked unit will consume more power.

Excess Moisture and the Long Term

One does not want to let humidity issues fester. What is a small clog in the drain today could be water damage to your walls and floors tomorrow. And a system made to run nonstop against the moisture will wear out ahead of schedule. Not to mention mold in the unit affecting the air the family is breathing.

For the most part they are avoidable if you give them some attention. It is less expensive to deal with a clogged line early on than to put in repairs for water damage after the fact.

When to Make a Call

There are times to stop and have a licensed technician come out. Be on the lookout for:

• Pools of water near the indoor unit
• Vents giving off a moldy smell
• Frost or ice anywhere on the system
• Damp feeling to the air regardless of how long the A/C has been on
• The system going on and off more than is normal
• An unexplained spike in your monthly bill

Do not delay in calling us at (850) 820-6710 if any of this is the case; we can put you right.

A Few Things the Homeowner Can Do

Some habits will go a long way in having your system stand up to the humidity. Put in a new filter to ensure good airflow. See that the outdoor unit is free of leaves and the like. Have a pro in for routine maintenance to clear the condensate line and check the coils and refrigerant before anything goes wrong.

Leave certain things to those with the training though. We are fully licensed and insured in Florida for our electrical, plumbing and air conditioning work and we are advocates for women in the trades.

We Are Here

You cannot get away from the humidity in the Panhandle but you can have a home that is not a constant battle. We Care A/C, Plumbing, & Electric is at your service 24/7 in Niceville and the counties of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Escambia, with a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of it. Let us set things to rights when your air conditioner is losing the fight with the moisture. Call (850) 820-6710.