The summer months are without a doubt, heating up. It’s hot, and we live in Tennessee, so it is HUMID. Humidity feels stifling and increases the heat index, making the temperature feel higher than it already is.

Most of us stay indoors where the air-conditioning is, but did you know that there are ways to decrease the humidity inside as well? A dry home is more comfortable and prevents harmful mold and mildew from proliferating. Follow these simple steps to get started on keeping you and your loved ones dry and happy in the summer heat and humidity.

Use a Fan (or two, or three!)

Make good use of fans in your home during these hot summer months. They move air and speed up the evaporation process. They can also help you save on your electric bill but allowing you to set thermostat on a higher temperature.

Ceiling fans are great, but if you don’t have those in your home you can find some great fans at WalMart (link to Walmart) or Lowe’s (link to Lowe’s) locally, and Amazon (link) is always a great online choice. We recommend a high velocity fan  and if you find one that oscillates that makes it even better! Box fans also work well, and are more budget friendly. We don’t recommend tower fans for lowering humidity.

Keep fans by vents to circulate air, and use them in the kitchen while cooking elements are on, as well as in the bathroom after a hot shower.

Pick Up a Dehumidifier

This one seems like a no-brainer! Look for a great dehumidifier in your price range and set it up in your house. Something that lets you know when the water holding unit is full is convenient and helpful. You can also use the water to water plants or wash the car. That’s doing double-duty!

Replace AC Filters

Check your filters and replace them regularly; dirty air filters will restrict air flow in your home.

Check for Leaking Pipes

Leaky pipes or any other leaky thing will increase the amount of water available for making humidity. Make sure you check and fix the pipes in your home!

Mind Your Showers!

We hate to cut into a good shower, but in these hot and humid months try and keep your showers shorter and colder. Excess moisture from a long, hot shower will really up the humidity factor.

That’s it! Try these simple tips and let us know how it goes. Do you need help with your air conditioning unit? Feel free to let us know. We want to hear tips from you too – how do you deal with the heat and humidity during these famous Tennessee summers?

It is disconcerting when your air-conditioning unit starts blowing warm air. After all, you’re depending on the darn thing to keep you cool. If you’re looking for some ways to fix the problem yourself before calling a professional, you’re in luck – we’re here to give you some troubleshooting tips.

There’s a Block in Airflow

If there is something blocking the flow of air into your home through air vents, it could be causing the compressor in your outdoor unit to freeze up. This may be caused if:

• your air filter has not been replaced in a long time
• you haven’t had proper maintenance on your AC unit and the coils are dirty
• the outside unit is not getting electricity

Check your circuit breaker or fuse panel to make sure the circuit is supplying electricity to the outside unit. Call a professional if this is the case to ensure there are no major issues.

The Thermostat is Set Incorrectly

This may seem silly, but it’s more common than you think. Take a look at these settings:

• Is it set to “heat” or “cool”?
• Is it set to “auto” or “on”? Setting the fan on “on” will cause the fan to continuous blow, even when your unit is not cooling.

Your Outside Unit is Clogged

Your AC unit is made of two main components – an outside unit and an inside unit. If your outside unit is clogged by dirt, debris, leaves, or other foreign objects, it will prevent your entire unit from properly cooling your home. You can try clearing the debris away yourself and trim any bushes, grass, or weeds that are too close to your unit and see if it helps.

More complicated causes for an air-conditioning unit blowing hot air include issues with the unit’s compressor, low refrigerant, or broken or disconnected ducts. We recommend that you call a professional if this is the case. If we can help, let us know!