How to Keep Your AC Vents From Sweating

Have you noticed condensation dripping from your home’s AC vents? A phenomenon known as sweating, it’s often a sign of an underlying problem.

AC systems naturally produce condensation when extracting heat from the air inside your home. When warm air is exposed to a cold surface, such as AC vent, moisture may accumulate on it to create condensation.

Excessive sweating, however, can lead to mold problems while reducing the efficiency of your AC system in the process.

Ensure Ducts Are Adequately Insulated

Insulation helps to prevent sweating from reducing the surface temperature of the ducts and, therefore, the vents.

If your ducts have little or no insulation, they’ll be cold to the touch when running your AC system. Moisture vapor from the warmer surrounding air will then collect on the ducts. As the moisture vapor builds up, it will create visible condensation.

With adequate insulation, on the other hand, your ducts will have a warmer surface that discourages the formation of condensation.

Open All the Vents

Make sure all the vents are open when running your AC system.

Closed vents can cause several problems, including condensation. Small amounts of moisture vapor will get trapped behind the closed vent. And even though closed vents are completely sealed, the moisture vapor will gradually accumulate.

By opening all the vents, condensation is less likely to build up.

Inspect Drain Line

You should inspect the condensate drain line to determine whether it needs cleaning.

Found directly below the evaporator coil – the AC component that’s located inside your home – it’s designed to remove condensation so that it doesn’t build up inside your home.

As warm air comes into contact with the cold evaporator coil, condensation will form. The pan below the evaporator coil will catch the dripping condensation, at which point the moisture will exit your home through the connected drain line.

If the drain line is clogged, you can clean it by pouring 1 cup of bleach into the drain pan. The bleach should eat through otherwise stubborn buildups of mildew and debris.

Let Your AC System Run

Allowing your AC system to run is a good thing.

Not only does will it create a cooler home during the summer; it will lower the humidity so that condensation is less likely to form on the vents or other surfaces.

Therefore, you should let your AC run during the summer to prevent condensation problems.

If you are experiencing a problem with your air conditioning or heating call us at 512-336-1431 to schedule an appointment. We’ll be glad to come out and take a look at the issue.

1431-183 A/C & Heating proudly serves Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Liberty Hill, and North Austin.