Biggest Air Conditioner Mistake Minnesotans Make During Heat Waves

We're getting into the hottest days of the summer, and we've already had extreme heat warnings issued recently. This is the time of year when you find out if your air conditioner is up to handle the brutal humidity we can experience in Minnesota.

You can beat the heat if you're fortunate enough to have an air conditioner. Many people don't understand how air conditioners work, and that can cause them to make costly, inefficient mistakes. Knowing how they work can save you money and also make you more comfortable.

Understanding How Air Conditioners Work

Air conditioners work by pulling the hot, humid air out of your house and blowing cool air into your house by using refrigerant in the appliance. You can see how this works with a window unit. The water that drips out the back of it is the humidity leaving your house. That's why it's important to make sure the water drains.

Common Mistake

The biggest mistake people make when it comes to using an air conditioner in the summertime is turning it off when it gets too cold. Maybe someone in the house sets it at 70 degrees, and then someone else decides later it's too cold, so they turn it off.

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Then, when the house starts heating up, they turn the air back on. Now it needs to start pulling the humidity out of the air again and work harder to catch up, costing you more in your power bill. Not only is it costing you money, but it's also less comfortable.

I learned this from my HVAC guy Bruce, at Aireserv. He also recommends that if you change your filter, or clean out the filter in your window unit. It's also recommended that you wash out your central air unit by spraying it with a garden hose. Get that crud off the coils inside to make it run more efficiently.

What You Should Do Instead

Leave your A/C on and adjust it to a warmer setting rather than turning it off. It will keep doing its job, keeping humidity down and keeping you comfortable. If you start feeling warm again, adjust the setting to a cooler temperature. But keep that A/C unit on during hot summer days.