Category: Humidity

Should I Keep My AC on “Auto” or “On”?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical
Hand adjusting a digital thermostat displaying indoor and cooling temperatures, relevant to HVAC system settings and energy efficiency discussions.

Hand adjusting a digital thermostat displaying 72°F inside temperature and 68°F heat setting, relevant to HVAC system settings and energy efficiency.

In the battle for how you should set up the air conditioning in your Charlotte-area home, a new twist comes into play. With newer models of residential air conditioning systems, thermostats have become more advanced. Now, there are many different features you can have for your air conditioner, and they’re all programmed from your thermostat.

While some features may rely on personal preference, setting your thermostat to “auto” or “on” can be more structured. Read on to understand which option is suitable for your home — and why!

What’s the Difference Between “Auto” and “On”?

Before deciding if you should set your air conditioner to “auto” or “on,” it’s essential to understand the difference between the two settings. Both settings control the air conditioner fan but differ in when the fan operates.

When you set your air conditioner to “auto,” you restrict the fan to only run at certain times. The air conditioner thermostat evaluates the temperature in your home. When the temperature goes above the set temperature, the air conditioner starts a cooling cycle, and the fan automatically turns on, so it can help cool your home. Once your home reaches the desired temperature, the fan and the cycle stop.

On the other hand, when you set your air conditioner to “on,” you are telling your air conditioner always to run the fan, even when your air conditioner is not working to cool your home.

What Are the Benefits of “Auto” and “On”?

There are benefits to having your air conditioner set to “auto” and “on.” The benefits of the “auto” setting include higher efficiency, lower energy bills, better humidity control, less wear and tear on some components, and quieter running.

The “on” setting includes more even cooling, better air circulation and filtration, and less wear and tear from stopping and starting.

While there are many advantages to both “auto” and “on” settings, they also have disadvantages.

What Are the Disadvantages of “Auto” and “On”?

Sometimes, the disadvantages can give you a more straightforward choice between choosing the “auto” or “on” setting on your air conditioner. The drawbacks to the “auto” setting include hot and cool spots in your home, less air filtration, and the blower motor may wear out from the regular stopping and starting.

The disadvantages to the “on” setting include increased cooling costs, filter replacements needed more frequently, and may blow more regularly during summer to cool the air in ducts near attics or warmer areas.

Understanding if you should choose the “auto” setting or the “on” setting for your air conditioner comes down to the Charlotte climate.

The Setting You Should Choose

When choosing between setting your air conditioner to “auto” or “on,” our warm, humid climate should be the determining factor. The evaporator coils are what create the cool air in your home. They cool the air around them, and the fan blows that cool air through your ducts and into your home.

The high levels of moisture in our air can cause condensation to build up on the evaporator coils. Then, when the fan blows air across the coils and into your home, that condensation also blows into your home. This adds humidity to your home.

In a climate that is as humid as Charlotte, the added humidity can make your home more uncomfortable.

When you set your air conditioner to the “auto” setting, you reduce the amount of moisture your system blows back into your home. You’ll have a lower humidity level in your home, which will make your home feel cooler and more comfortable.

So, in the Charlotte area, choose the “auto” setting for your air conditioner to reduce the humidity and make your home as comfortable as possible during our hot summers!

Why Choosing a Programmable or Smart Thermostat Is a Good Idea

A programmable thermostat or smart thermostat gives you the flexibility you need to customize your air conditioning system and make your home comfortable for you. Since you’re setting your thermostat to “auto” to eliminate as much humidity from your home as possible, using a programmable thermostat or smart thermostat simply takes your air conditioner to the next level.

Programmable thermostats allow you to set your air conditioner based on time of day, day of the week, year’s season, and so much more. By customizing when your air conditioner will run, you can keep your home at a more consistent temperature.

Smart thermostatsalso let you change your air conditioner settings with your phone or other devices from anywhere in the world.

Now you can have precisely the settings you want on your air conditioner with the touch of a button!

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Choose Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you want to upgrade to a smart thermostat or have other air conditioning system needs, choose Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We have over 45 years of professional experience helping Charlotte-area homeowners stay cool and comfortable all year long.

For the best air conditioning installation, repair, and maintenance services, trust your home to Acosta’s team of experts. Our friendly and courteous professionals will do the job quickly and efficiently, delivering superior customer service.

Call 704.665.5998 or contact us online to schedule your HVAC appointment in Mecklenburg or Union County today!

More Air Conditioning & HVAC Resources

Is It Okay Run Your Air Conditioner All the Time?

Why You Should Schedule Routine AC Maintenance

The Possible Reason Your Home Has Uneven Cooling

Static Electricity? No Problem — Use a Humidifier To Take Care of It

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical
Lightning striking in a stormy sky above residential rooftops, illustrating potential HVAC challenges during severe weather.

Dry winter air can cause a variety of issues, ranging from mildly irritating to downright damaging. Static electricity typically falls into the former category, although it can cause more serious problems in extreme cases. In any event, if you’d like to eliminate static and reduce all the issues associated with dry air, a humidifier is the way to go.

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Compact Healthy Climate air purification unit designed to improve indoor air quality and reduce static electricity.

Static Electricity in Your Home

You’ve probably noticed static electricity from the many forms it takes: frizzy hair, clingy clothing, and those telltale sparks when you touch a doorknob or other object. Occasionally, static can also build up to levels that can be damaging to sensitive electronics, so it’s important not to let it get too out of hand.

How a Humidifier Helps Reduce Static

Static electricity tends to be much more of an issue in winter because the air tends to be driest during the season. Moisture in the air prevents static electricity from building up, and that’s where humidifiers come in. Maintaining an optimum humidity level around 30% or 40% can significantly reduce static electricity.

Other Benefits of Humidifiers

A humidifier can ease all of the many issues caused by dry air, such as chapped lips, dry eyes, and itchy skin. Avoiding dry air can also help you recover from colds more quickly, and it makes breathing easier, especially for sufferers of asthma or other respiratory conditions. Humidification also protects wooden floors, furniture, and fixtures in your home from drying, separating, and cracking.

Humidifier Options for Your Charlotte Home

When you consider humidifiers, you basically have two options. The first is one or more portable humidifiers, which can each effectively eliminate dry air in a single room. The second is a whole-house humidifier, which works with your HVAC system to humidify the air throughout your home. Although portable models are less expensive, they require more work, such as regular deep cleanings and constant refills. Whole-house humidifiers are more efficient, do not require constantly having to be refilled with water, require little maintenance, and are usually installed out of sight and away from your living space.

For more information on the benefits of humidification, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’ve been locally owned and operated since 1972 and provide expert HVAC service throughout the Charlotte area.

Your Home’s Relative Humidity, Whatever the Temperature

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

The humidity levels in your home, in part, will determine comfort. Too much, and your home can feel like a hot, muggy summer day in North Carolina. Too little, and your health can become affected, not to mention impacting the health of wood products in your home. Therefore, it’s important to understand how relative humidity works, and know what you can do to keep your home’s humidity at healthy levels.

Relative humidity, in the simplest of terms, means the amount of moisture that the air can hold at a given time, compared to complete saturation. So, if the relative humidity is 50 percent, the air is capable of holding 50 percent moisture when compared to saturated air at 100 percent.

Being able to control humidity is particularly helpful during the winter season. When air becomes cooler, it also becomes drier, and cool air is less able to hold or retain moisture. That’s why hot summer temperatures generally mean more humid temperatures. So, as the air gets colder, most Charlotte homeowners are looking for a respite from dry air, and for good reason.

Dry air can irritate nasal passages and allergies, because our bodies need moisture for healthy functioning systems. Wood materials in your home also need moisture, but not too much. Again, a balance is ideal here, as dry air can warp and damage wood, while too much moisture can also damage wood, causing it to expand. Continually expanding and contracting over the seasons can wreak havoc on your wood products.

To ward off dry air and the problems it causes, implement the use of a whole-house humidification system. Working in tandem with your heating system as it produces conditioned air, the humidifier will emit moisture into that heated air, which is then distributed throughout your home. Plus, a whole-house humidifier can be programmed to maintain healthy levels of humidity between 35 and 55 percent.

The experts at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, serving the Greater Charlotte area since 1972, are happy to help you solve your home comfort problems. Just give us a call today!