Is It Bad To Have Your Windows Open AND Run Your AC?

Imagine this: It’s a beautiful day, and the temperature outside is perfect, but you’re stuck inside your home. So, you open up a few windows, let the breeze run through your curtains and breathe in some fresh air. You don’t want it to get too warm inside, so you leave your AC on. What harm can it cause?

Well, it can actually cause a lot of harm to your AC unit, as all of us here at Ball Heating and Air Conditioning know. If you want to extend the life of your air conditioner and keep your air quality pure, take the extra step to shut off your AC next time you open your windows.

What’s The Harm In Leaving The AC On?

The harm from leaving your AC on while your windows are open isn’t always obvious. Sometimes, it’s not even visible at all. However, the damage from this common homeowner habit can kill the machine from within.

AC Overuse

To understand why leaving your AC on with an open window is harmful, you first need to understand how your AC works. Both ductless and traditional AC systems run based on the temperature detected by a thermostat. Your unit will then blow cool air into the rooms of your home until it reaches the set temperature.

Let’s introduce the warm air from your open window. Suddenly, your AC has to work even harder to cool down your rooms since some of the precious cool air it’s generating is lost to the outdoors! This temporary hole in your home’s insulation creates a need for constant air flow from your AC. This wears out the internal parts of the machine.

Overuse leads to more frequent AC maintenance. Although our technicians at Ball Heating and Air Conditioning are happy to help, it’s better to take an extra second to shut off your AC before cracking open a window or two.

Internal AC Damage

Opening a window with a running AC not only results in a loss of cool air, but it also introduces pollution from the outdoors to the inside. Pollen and dust are two examples of harmful pollutants that coat the internal components of your AC unit. When your unit is dirty and clogged up, it has to work even harder to cool down your home, even when your windows aren’t open.

Open windows also increase the humidity levels inside your home. Excess humidity creates the perfect environment for mold to grow in your AC unit or ductwork. Air that flows through dirty or moldy AC systems can cause negative health effects, such as respiratory illnesses, nausea, and headaches.

Trapping air pollutants inside your home can intensify the concentration of pollutants you’re breathing in. While the particles have the vast outdoors to travel through outside, they only have limited space to roam within your home!

Pricey Consequences

It’s only natural that if your AC is running more often and it has to work even harder to cool down your home, your electricity bill will rise. Ideally, you want your AC running as infrequently and as powerfully as possible.

If you’re going to open a window, make sure it’s a comfortable temperature outside so that you won’t even miss the coolness your AC provides. Better yet, take a few minutes to go outside and enjoy the weather! This can help prevent frequent AC maintenance and leave you feeling refreshed, happy, and comfortable.

Choosing An HVAC Repair Company

Although turning off the AC while your windows are open can help increase the lifespan of your system, you’ll need a technician to perform repairs sooner or later. When these predicaments arise, it’s important you call on a trusted HVAC repair company to get the job done.

Ball Heating and Air Conditioning provides reliable Biloxi air conditioner services. We’d love to take a look at your AC and help you figure out why it’s acting up. We can also perform preventative maintenance to ensure a long life for your HVAC system. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!