A/C Misting Products Review

A/C Misting Systems Review

These products are sold under a million different names at various stores such as Home Depot, Lowes, Target, and more.

The basic premise as to how they work is that you are fitting 1/4" tubing with misting heads at various points around your condenser (outside compressor unit). The way that A/C systems work is that they don't cool the air inside the house, but rather EXTRACT the hot air to the outside by means of a propellant (Freon), where it is cooled down, compressed and returned to the inside unit (Evaporator).

If you've ever noticed, the air that blows from the outside unit is very hot. These devices are supposed to create cool misted water around the unit, thereby reducing the temperature and making the A/C work at lot more efficiently. They promise to cut your cooling bills in half.

DO THEY WORK?

In short, not really. There are a couple of problems with this system. Since they use water from your home's water supply, you risk corrosion of the coils and fins because municipal water contains chlorine which is a strong corrosive. In addition, some water supplies (like in South Florida) contain traces of calcium which can cause a build-up on the fins, and thereby blocking air flow.

The other problem is that they really don't affect your cooling bill as much as they promise. Several YouTube videos have proven that these systems only reduce the wattage drawn by your compressor by about 100-150 watts. This translates into literally pennies on your electric bill. The bottom line is: Don't waste your money.

HOW CAN YOU SAVE MONEY?

Buy high quality filters (not the cheap, blue ones) and religiously change them every 30 days. This allows for better air flow throughout the house and reducing the work load on your A/C system.
Use your high pressure garden hose sprayer to hose out the external coils once a week. Because the fan on your outside unit draws air through the coils and fins, dirt and debris get trapped in between the fins, thus cutting down air flow. Just a 5 minute rinse weekly keeps them clean. And because they are not constantly being attacked by chlorinated water,
Keep all plants at least 24 inches away from the outside unit. Plants that are closer to the unit also block free air flow and make the unit work harder
NEVER use the "fan ON" setting on your thermostat. By running the fan all day long, you are pushing warm, humid air around your house when the compressor is not running, thus making it feel more uncomfortable.
When it's time to replace your unit, opt for a super high efficiency model. Some states and power companies also offer rebates and discounts for buying more efficient systems.
Don't play "roller coaster" with your thermostat. Changing the temperature by 5 degrees or more when you're not home for 6-8 hours, only makes your unit run constantly when you come home to cool the house down. Modern units are designed to run at a constant thermostat setting to be most efficient. At most, only vary the temperature by 1-2 degrees if you feel cool or warm.
Consider replacing your unit with a GEOTHERMAL unit. These are very expensive to buy and install because they require you to drill a deep well and install pipes that circulate the cold water that's underground to your home. As of 2018, the average cost is $15 - 20,000. This may sound like a bad investment, but the average system will pay for itself in less than 10 years in dramatically lowered electric bills. They not only cool your house, but they can also be connected to your hot water heater, reducing its workload. Plus, they are super quiet and don't require an outside condenser unit.

The bottom line is that there ARE things you can do to keep your electric bills under control. Check with your local power company for more tips and helpful hints.