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We’ve all heard the saying “April showers bring May flowers.” But the real question is, does your air conditioner work harder on rainy days?Contrary to popular belief, rainfall can actually benefit the internal functions of your AC.
Buildup
Air conditioning — whether it comes in the form of a window unit or a central air system — is hardly affected by the change in weather. In fact, this saves you the hassle of having to take time out of your day to clean the exterior of your window unit. But when dirt begins to build up — along with other debris — this alone can affect how well your unit runs.
This is when heavy rainstorms, mixed with heavy winds, can pose problems by blowing particles to and fro. Over time, these bits and pieces can lodge themselves into the small crevices of your unit, resulting in damage. This debris can include, but is not limited to: leaves, rubble, dust, and discarded fragments.
Water Damage
In addition to buildup, another problem you want to avoid is water damage. Water damage is described as “a large number of possible losses caused by water intruding and attacking a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting, growth, rust, and many others.”
Your AC unit is most likely manufactured for the utmost durability, but even so, there is always the possibility of water damage, especially if you neglect to take care of your unit throughout the year. The aftermath of a bad storm can contribute to this by causing your window unit to leak into your home. A little rain never hurt anyone, but too much rain can damage your window frame and the AC unit itself.
The water damage from your AC unit can then squeeze through the frame of the window, causing even bigger issues in the interior of your home. Instances like these are when it’s best to turn your AC unit off to avoid any further damage that may come from the storm, such as power outages, lightning, heavier rainfall, and so on.
Leaks
In addition, always make sure to check the inside and outside of the unit following a severe storm. This way, you can make sure that no damage has been done to the fan and check for flooding or leaks. In doing so, you can greatly increase the chances of solving the problem before it’s too late by assessing the damage and contacting an expert for further assistance, if need be.
When rainfall grows heavy and you are doubting yourself on what to do, turning the unit off will serve as your best option. That way you can be safe, rather than sorry, and not have to pay for expensive AC repairs that could have been avoided. Your AC can run smoothly during the hottest days of the year and remain in good working condition for years to come.
