High Home Humidity Could Be A Sign Your Air Conditioner's Clogged

When working properly, an air conditioner does more than just cool the air inside your home. Air conditioners are also dehumidifiers, removing moisture from the air as they cool it and then releasing both heat and moisture outside. That's why, if you've noticed higher-than-normal humidity in your home, it's important that you get your air conditioner checked out before going out to buy a dehumidifier.

Why Do Air Conditioners Dehumidify?

Dehumidifying isn't just a bonus that air conditioner manufacturers have added on to their units – it's a key part of how air conditioners work. Inside an air conditioner is a loop of coolant such as freon, and within the loop, the coolant is shifted from a liquid to a gas. When it is forced into a gas within the home, it absorbs heat from the air; when it cycles back outside the home, it returns to a liquid and expels the heat.

Cold water can hold less water vapor in it than hot water. So during the interior part of this cycle, when the coolant pulls heat out of the air, that air can suddenly hold much less water than it could previously. This water condenses on the air conditioner's cooling coils and, if not removed, can even turn to ice there. This is why air conditioners have condensate drains that move this water outside your home.

What Causes An Air Conditioner To Stop Dehumidifying?

The most common reason that an air conditioner might not be dehumidifying properly is a clogged condensate drain. If gunk or debris is blocking the path for moisture to exit your home, it can re-evaporate into the air. Icing on the cooling coils is also a sign of this as, in such a cold spot, the water freezes instead of evaporating.

Lack of dehumidification can also be a symptom of bigger air conditioner problems – if the coolant isn't cycling properly, for instance, then air won't be cooled properly and condensation won't be produced, leaving that water vapor in the air. If this is the case, you'll be able to tell because you'll have a much more obvious problem: the air conditioner won't be cooling your home.

What's Next?

It's possible to clean out your condensate drain yourself or call a repairman to have it done for you. If you want to do your air conditioning repairs yourself, first you must turn off your air conditioner completely. A wet-dry vac can then be used to suck debris out of the drain pan and drain pipe, which often solves the problem. Consult your owner's manual to see the specifics of where these things are in your unit.

If the problem is not with the condensate drain, it's best to call a repairman. Coolants like freon are environmental hazards regulated by the EPA, and they should only be handled by trained professionals.