Q: How much water is my A/C unit supposed to put out, it’s not doing much.
A: I really hate to start off on a tangent, and it’s amazing how often that occurs. Perhaps It is just a way of attempting to answer the question a little deeper than a boring clinical explanation of how an A/C works (or doesn’t). While hiking at Glacier National Park the other morning (how this relates to a cooling system will be interesting) we were at the trail head in Two Medicine at 8:11 AM. Heading up to Scenic Point is a steady vertical upwards but made more enjoyable by the cool mountain air. If you have been on that hike or any along the Rocky Mountain Front you would observe an often desolate, arid, yet beautiful environment that survives somehow on the rock faces, the cracks, and endless cervices. Being up there so early it was easy to see the miracle of moisture as the dew from the previous night evaporated back to vapor. These small but significant drops blanketing not only the park, but the majority of our land mass sustains life in many areas which would be void otherwise.
In our world of air conditioning service and repair, we mention “dew” regularly, but it is usually followed by the word “point”. Dew point is our scientifically proven, repeatable, reliable go to as we determine when water will change state from a vapor to a liquid. This often unappreciated naturally occurring process helps form our weather and our world. While it happens with little (alright no) help from us in the natural world, being in the business of hot and cold, we take advantage of this knowledge and make our own dew point. Maybe I’m weird (you don’t have to agree) but it is amazing that the room where you are sitting is full of all kinds of gases (some good, some not so good) and water. There is water vapor surrounding you which is why you are uncomfortable when it is more humid. Your own bodies evaporation cooling system is reduced in capacity by its inability to evaporate and thus, even cold beer won’t do the trick (but might help).
While humans sweat when it’s hot, your air conditioner may or may not. If the refrigeration system is operating properly (our AirWorks technicians can check it for you), airflow is correct, and the humidity in the home is at a point where condensation can occur, water will be magically produced. Dew point will be reached on the surface of the indoor coil and a steady drip down the drain is the result. This water is basically distilled but certainly not potable. Little or no water produced by your A/C system means there could be something amiss. This is usually, but not limited to refrigerant charge problems which is good for you as at least you know who to call (AirWorks hopefully). Quality service, repair, and replacement is what we have been doing for decades now so I think just about any A/C system you would like us to fix, will be our pleasure to do so. So give AirWorks a call at (406) 630-4170 and have a pleasant weekend.
