As the summer heat builds across Knoxville and East Tennessee, homeowners often focus on keeping their air conditioning systems running smoothly. But there’s another factor that plays a major role in how comfortable your home feels: dew point. When the dew point is high, it doesn’t just feel sticky outside—it can make your indoor air feel heavy, humid, and uncomfortable. It can even affect your air quality, energy bills, and the health of your HVAC system.
At Eco Home Solutions, we help Knoxville families stay comfortable all summer long by tackling humidity, dew point challenges, and poor air quality with proven solutions.
The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes fully saturated with moisture, causing water vapor to condense. The higher the dew point, the more moisture is in the air and the muggier it feels. In Knoxville, summer dew points often reach between 65°F and 75°F, making the air feel oppressive.
When the dew point is high:
Excess indoor humidity creates the perfect environment for allergens, mold, and dust mites. If the moisture level in your home is too high, you may notice:
Left unchecked, this excess moisture can damage your home’s structure, encourage mold growth, and lower the overall air quality in your living space.
At Eco Home Solutions, we offer a range of services to help you manage dew point challenges and improve indoor air quality:
By managing indoor humidity and dew point levels, you can:
If your home feels muggy, your energy bills are climbing, or you’re noticing signs of poor air quality, now is the time to act. Eco Home Solutions can evaluate your home’s air quality, recommend the right solutions, and help you enjoy a more comfortable, healthy summer.
Call (865) 272-5888 today to schedule your air quality consultation. Ask about bundling dehumidifier installation with your HVAC service for even more savings.
Regular maintenance boosts your system's efficiency, cutting down on energy bills. It also extends the life of your furnace or heat pump, avoiding expensive early replacements. Plus, it keeps your air clean by maintaining filters and ducts.
Key steps include turning off the power, checking and removing debris, and keeping space around the unit. You should also clean and straighten the fins, clear the condensate drain, and clean the condensate pan.
Your AC unit might need replacing if it doesn't cool the air well or if you see moisture or leaks. Strange noises, thermostat problems, and uneven cooling are also signs. If it's over 10-15 years old, it might be time for a new one.
Change your air filters every 1-3 months or as the maker suggests. Dirty filters slow down airflow and make your system work harder. New filters improve air quality by catching more dust and pollutants.
Keeping enough space helps with airflow to the unit. This prevents blockages that could lower its efficiency.
Grinding or scraping sounds mean there could be issues like a worn belt or bad bearings. These problems should be fixed quickly to prevent more damage.
Listen for scraping or metal sounds, which might mean a blower motor issue. Screeching sounds could be bad bearings. Loud banging or popping noises suggest a burner problem. If you hear these, get a pro to check it out to avoid damage.
Change or clean air filters every 1-3 months, based on usage and your environment. Dirty filters can block airflow and make the system less efficient.
A faulty thermostat can cause some areas of your home to stay hot or the AC to turn on and off too much. This can come from many issues and needs a pro to check.
Get duct cleaning every few years to clear out deep dirt and boost air quality. You can also vacuum vents and ductwork regularly to keep them clean at home.
Regular maintenance boosts efficiency, extends the unit's life, and keeps it running well. A technician can inspect, clean parts, check refrigerant, and spot issues early.
AC units usually last 10 to 15 years. If yours is older, it might be time for a new one. Older units are more likely to break down.
Keep at least 2 feet of space around your outdoor HVAC unit, as recommended. Trimming plants back helps keep airflow clear and your system running well.
Look out for odd sounds like grinding or buzzing. Also, if you get warm air instead of cool from the vents, it's a sign of trouble.
If you're calling for repairs often and costs keep going up, it's smarter to get a new AC. This saves money over time compared to constant repairs.
The pilot light should burn a steady blue flame. A yellow flame or one that goes out means there's a combustion issue that needs a pro's help.
Clean the unit, cover or remove the condenser, and clear the area of debris. These steps protect your AC and make sure it's ready for spring.
High energy bills without a change in weather mean your AC might be running poorly. This could be from a duct leak or other issues.
Regular tune-ups are key. Experts can inspect your system, check parts, calibrate the thermostat, and spot issues early.
How often and how hard you use your AC, your thermostat settings, where the outdoor unit is, and airflow can all affect its life.
Uneven or sooty flames in your furnace might mean a cracked heat exchanger or dirty burners. If your furnace cycles on and off too much, it could be a thermostat or other problem. Call a pro to fix these issues.
Regular checks and upkeep by pros can spot and fix problems early. This helps your AC last longer. Spring and fall tune-ups keep it running well.
Call a pro if you have AC issues or concerns. They can figure out the problem, decide if you need to repair or replace, and make sure it's done right and safely.
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