Mould and Air Conditioning Sweating

Mould – Why are we getting Mould or Moisture build up? Brisbane / Sunshine Coast and its surrounding suburbs are well known for the hot, humid weather. This can be the reason most consumers choose to install air conditioning, to escape the humid atmosphere. This weather will increase condensation because ducted air conditioning is designed to remove moisture/humidity from the air.

Sweating is likely to occur when the air temperature is below the dew point temperature. The dew point temperature is the temperature at which water vapour will begin to form and turn into liquid. If the surface of your air conditioner grille for example is below the dew point of the room, then moisture will begin to form. In your roof space where it’s much hotter the dew point temperature is also much higher, this means that sweating of the ducts and other air conditioning equipment is more likely to occur and lead to mould build up.

What can I do to fix the issues:

If the filter is clogged or dirty, the airflow to the evaporator coil will be blocked or restricted causing the temperature to drop. If the evaporator coil gets too cold it freezes over and ices up. When the AC is off, the indoor unit will stop trying to draw air causing the unit to warm up and therefore melting the ice. This drips an excess amount of water into the drip tray. This is why it is essential that your filters are cleaned every month and the whole system serviced annually.

• Are all of the windows and doors shut properly (including the rooms you are not using)
• Insulation / ventilation If there is no insulation on the ceiling (in the roof cavity) than the watermarks will affect the ceiling. This is one of the most common causes for water leaks. Have you looked at solar whirly birds to ventilate the roof cavity https://acstore.com.au/blog/2020/06/12/more-efficient-air-conditioning/
• Is the unit set to a reasonable and achievable desired temperature for the day, if temperature is lower than the dew point, air conditioner sweating may occur once the metal/plastic grille drops below this temperature.

Can an Air Conditioner reduce humidity

There are many air conditioning systems that are able of regulating humidity. It has an evaporator coil that condenses water vapour from the air. This occurs when the hot and humid air in your home comes in contact with the cold evaporator coil.

The liquid then condenses in the air, making your home less humid. The moisture collected by the evaporator coil goes to a drain to be sent outside, away from your home. But keep in mind that it also depends a lot on the type of air conditioner system that you has and the years it has. Modern air conditioners are more efficient in regulating humidity at home than older ones. Panasonic and LG are great air conditioner brands with Dry function or air purification features.

Contact us for servicing and installation of a new Air Conditioner with Dry function. Remember when your evaporator coil is covered in dust and dirt, it cannot remove all the heat and moisture that should be removed at home. Even if the coil is not dirty enough to prevent the air conditioner from cooling your home, it may still be dirty enough to perform the correct removal of moisture.