Many people associate Florida with hot weather. The north and central regions have a warm subtropical climate while the southern area is tropical. The state has both wet and dry seasons with frequent hurricanes.
Compared to other states, Florida has much warmer temperatures and much higher humidity levels. As a result, the HVAC system you install at your home in Florida will deal with certain problems and have specific needs. Check out this explanation of how Florida weather could affect your HVAC unit.
Makes Your AC Work Longer and Harder
The AC in your home will likely run longer and harder than the AC systems in homes in other states. Throughout the year, the temperatures in Florida often soar above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Such high temperatures prompt many Floridians to keep their ACs on year-round. So, while most Americans power their ACs for about 1,000 hours yearly, Floridians run theirs for 2,000 to 3,000 hours annually.
Not only do the ACs in this state-run for at least twice as long as AC units elsewhere, but they also have to work harder than other units, too, thanks to the high humidity levels in Florida. To cool down a space, AC units must not only remove heat but also excess humidity from a space. Since the humidity in homes here is so high, the AC units have to consume substantial amounts of energy as they work to decrease a home’s temperature.
Expect your home’s AC unit to experience plenty of wear and tear as it will have to run longer and work harder than the average AC. This kind of heavy-duty wear and tear could lead to extensive damage over time and require numerous repairs.
Experts typically recommend that homeowners keep their windows shut as much as possible to prevent humidity from entering their homes. They also recommend that homeowners install whole-home dehumidifiers. One of these devices can reduce the moisture in your home’s air, making it easier for your AC unit to cool down your property.
Decreases Your Need for Heat
Winters in Florida tend to be mild with temperatures that are often warm and pleasant. Most people have little need for heating in their homes. If you invest in a central heating system for your home, you will likely use it infrequently. Dormant heating systems are simply not energy efficient. They draw energy even when the heating unit is switched off, which can increase your power bills.
Dormant heating systems can also cause big repair bills. If you’re not using it, you might not remember basic maintenance tasks, or you might overlook simple repairs. This can lead to more serious problems in the long run, adding up to one hefty repair bill.
Professionals often recommend that homeowners invest in heat pumps rather than using gas or electric furnaces to heat their homes. Heat pumps tend to be more energy efficient in warmer climates because they produce twice as much heat as the energy they consume. Traditional gas furnaces convert 95% of each energy unit they consume into heat. However, most heat pumps have maximum efficiency ratings of 200% or 300% because they absorb heat from outside and deliver it to the interior of a home.
Heat pumps are ideal in regions such as Florida because the hot, warm, and mild temperatures the state experiences provide the pump with a significant amount of heat to absorb.
Reduces Your Indoor Air Quality
The Sunshine State’s wet and humid climate makes homes perfect breeding grounds for mold. Hot, humid environments are especially likely to wreak havoc on your HVAC system, allowing mold spores to grow in the dirt and dust already present in the system. As the mold proliferates in the ducts, it puts spores blowing throughout the air in your home and sends your indoor air quality levels plummeting.
High humidity levels also cause the AC to cycle damp air, which can increase the levels of allergens indoors. The damp air can settle on your furniture and carpet, creating an environment ripe for mold and mildew to flourish. These allergens further reduce your home’s indoor air quality and threaten your and your family’s well-being.
You need to monitor your home’s indoor air quality regularly. Even minor mold contamination can spread rapidly and affect the health of everyone in your home. With periodic checks, you can keep track of the air quality your HVAC system is yielding, and you can promptly schedule the HVAC cleaning sessions that are so essential to the health of your household.
Increases the Risk of Corrosion
Florida’s hot, humid climate can increase the chance of corrosion in your home’s HVAC system. When air is saturated with moisture, it reacts with the oxygen and electrons on the surface of the metal and triggers corrosion. Atmospheric corrosion occurs when there is so much moisture in the air that water can no longer evaporate or get absorbed from the atmosphere. That can happen around 80% relative humidity (RH).
Humidity alone does not cause corrosion, however. For corrosion to occur, there must be a change in temperature resulting in condensation forming on the various parts and components. This commonly happens in the morning and evening when the day is warming up or cooling off, and it can stress the compressor, reduce the efficiency of the condenser, and increase the refrigerant’s pressure, bringing with it a real risk of leaks. Leaks are most likely to occur on or near the air conditioning unit’s drain pipe or line. If the leaks go unaddressed, the combination of leaks and humidity can lead to corrosion and rust.
To reduce the risk of corrosion, your first step should be to lower humidity levels in your home. A dehumidifier can be a great investment along with window sealants. Next, you should consider scheduling regular maintenance sessions to monitor for signs of corrosion and address leaks at their earliest stages when they are most easily addressed.
Use Professional HVAC Services
In Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Buehler Air Conditioning & Plumbing can provide all the HVAC services your home will need. We offer comprehensive cooling services, including AC repair, installation, and maintenance, to help prevent your AC from being overworked and stave off the possibility of rust and corrosion. We also offer complete heating services, including repairing, replacing, and maintaining heat pumps for the most energy-efficient heating system possible.
We also offer services to address indoor air quality issues. We can help with a range of services that include air purifiers, scrubbers, filters, and filtration systems as well as energy recovery ventilators (ERVs), ultraviolet (UV) lights, and dehumidifiers. We can help you enhance your home’s air quality and improve the respiratory health of your home’s inhabitants.
Living in Florida can bring some challenges as a result of the warm, wet climate. However, our team can help you set up and maintain an HVAC system that will keep you comfortable no matter what Florida’s weather has in store. Call today to learn more.
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