24 Sep WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU KEEP YOUR THERMOSTAT TOO COLD?

The weather in Florida can be brutally hot and humid, especially during the spring and summer months of the year.  Your first instinct might be to make your thermostat colder in your house, but there are some consequences if you keep your thermostat too cold.  We have prepared a list of negative impacts for What Happens If You Keep Your Thermostat Too Cold:

• Mold Growth- The colder you keep your home, the colder the walls, ceiling, floors, windows and more will be. Water vapor that gets into these porous materials is the ideal place for mold to grow. This also can happen when humid outdoor air gets into the home and the indoor humidity is low in the air. 
• Condensation- When you keep your house cold, your metal AC vents will be cold as well. When these surfaces are below the dew point, condensation begins to appear.  Also, with the AC running longer your ducts will get colder too.  When found in the attic with a high dew point, it is common for them to drip.  When your attic ducts are buried in insulation, they are more like to have condensation, which can drip down on to the ceiling and create water spots.  This is also an environment for mold to grow.
• Increased Energy Use- When your AC unit runs more, it uses more energy.
• Increased Duct Leakage- The more you use your AC, the more it leaks. If you have leaky ducts, they will be leaking for a longer amount of time during the day to keep your house cold at your desired temperature on your thermostat. 
• Change Your Filters More Frequently- When you run your AC system frequently you will need to change your air filters more frequently for your system to filter the air properly.
• Wood Rot- In severe situations you are at risk for moisture from the outdoors leaking in the walls, floor, and ceiling. This can cause the wood to rot as well as cause mold to grow in these areas of your home. 

In Florida, your air conditioning system is one of the most vital parts of your home!  75 degrees and 50% relative humidity is the recommended temperature thermostat setting in Florida.  If you need to adjust the temperature a few degrees to make your home feel more comfortable, that’s okay…75 degrees is just a recommendation.

If you still like to have your home cold, it is important to pay attention to the indoor and outdoor dew points.  A moisture meter is a great tool that can be used to tell you if your walls are too wet.  Combining AC with ceiling fan air circulation/movement is a great way to help cool your house without setting your thermostat temperature too cold.  Learn more about thermostat operation recommendations.

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