subject: Air-con For Less Heat And Humidity - Your Electronics Are Going To Work Better [print this page] For electronic gear to work at its best, and last the longest, it must be kept cool and dry. That is something we usually take for granted in modern houses with the heating and air con we count on to run twenty-four / seven without serious interruption. PCs don't do nicely in ninety percent humidity, and that goes for huge electronics as well , for example TVs and stereos.
The 1st defensive position is to get your unit ( or units ) professionally serviced once ( or twice ) a year. The furnace and air conditioner each need yearly servicing from someone who can say what he is doing. If you've got a heat pump, it needs attention biannually - once for the cooling apparatus and once for the heating part. And, naturally, a regular schedule of filter changing is imperative, particularly for heat pumps. Filters affect the air quality, which is the guts of any heating and / or cooling system.
What happens when the air conditioner (and maybe all the power) fails during hurricane season? For residents of the Gulf Coast, three hurricanes in a row wreaked havoc with the power grid in a recent year. Residents - and home electronics - suffered through days, and in some cases, weeks and months of sweltering heat and humidity.
Since humans are a resilient and resourceful lot, they figured out how to survive using rudimentary cooking methods and bathing in swimming pools. They read by candlelight and played table games with the kids. But what happened to the expensive electronic equipment such as computers and hi-definition televisions? Many of them suffered damaged circuitry following prolonged exposure to heat and humidity.
1 electronics troubleshooter took steps that saved all his valuable gear from damage. Long before the frightful threesome of hurricanes bore down on central Florida, he stockpiled some easy dehumidifiers that did not rely on electricity. He also invested in two rolls of clear plastic and some strong tape from the local home supply store.
After boarding up the windows he got busy making protecting tents for PCs and dear TVs using the plastic and tape. Just before weighing or taping down the perimeters of each mini tent, he tucked in one of the desiccants. The result : NO moisture damage!
You may have noticed that many newly purchased items have little packets of silica gel sealed inside. That's because they prevent moisture from doing any damage in the sealed container. Both government and industry have been choosing silica gel as the top desiccant since World War II. It costs so little yet works so well. Some types of moisture absorbent silica gel dehumidifiers can be reactivated heating in a conventional oven. Absent a natural disaster, when things are running smooth, be sure to leave your thermostat set at a reasonable level if you will be away from home for an extended period of time. Resist the temptation to shut your air conditioning system off completely, or your home electronics could pay the price, especially in the hot and humid southern states.
