Will Opening My Windows Affect My HVAC System?

The weather lately in coastal Virginia has been BEAUTIFUL! Are you the type of person who loves natural light, the soft breeze of an open window, and loves to hear the birds singing? If we could keep our windows open while we soak up this wonderful weather, we would without a doubt. But will having your windows open affect your HVAC negatively? Are there any benefits to it besides your happiness? Is it worth it? Let’s explore how having windows open can help and hurt your HVAC system, and we’ll also give you some tips on how to experience the best of both worlds.

Before you open any windows, think of yourself and those living in your home and check the allergy forecast! There is nothing worse than unknowingly bringing in allergens which might make you or family members completely miserable! The breeze, while lovely, isn’t worth diminishing your indoor air quality (IAQ) and suffering from allergies inside! Do you not have allergies (lucky!) or is the allergy forecast relatively low? Alright! Let’s open those… WAIT! 

You checked the allergy forecast, but did you check the weather? Are there any rain storms predicted or high humidity forming? We know having windows open can be relaxing, but if you plan on leaving the house, either close them up before you leave or make sure there is no rain coming. Water damage is not relaxing. Be mindful to avoid this possible issue by checking the weather. Keep reading to learn more about how to enjoy the breeze without overwhelming your HVAC system.

When an HVAC system is installed, our technicians take all sorts of specific measurements to create a system that works for the size of your home. Any additional air from your open windows or open doors offsets those specific measurements which can cause your HVAC system to work overtime. We highly suggest turning off your HVAC system while you have windows open. If you keep the system on, it tries to cool down the incoming/outgoing air. Perhaps you’ve been told once or twice, “We aren’t paying to air condition the outside!” No one likes doing extra work especially when it is counterintuitive, so make sure to give your HVAC system a break too! Overloading your system is unnecessary and a waste of energy which can lead to higher electricity bills. Keep your unit working in tip-top shape to help it last longer by turning it off when you open windows.

Alright, you’ve checked the allergen forecast, checked the weather, turned off your HVAC system, and now you can open some of your home’s windows. Take a nice deep breath of that fresh air! While you’re appreciating the sounds of birds chirping outside, go around the house and turn on your ceiling fans. You’ll want to have some circulation of air inside your home, and the ceiling fans can help.

Don’t keep your HVAC system off and windows open for long periods of time. When you feel the weather heating up, it would be a good idea to close the windows and get your HVAC system running again. You don’t want it to get super hot from the weather and then have the system work overtime trying to cool those high temps. Don’t leave the windows open overnight either for security reasons. Lastly, take a moment to clean up any pollen or dust that might have flowed in through the window screens. After a little bit of fresh air, why not do a little bit of dusting! It’ll feel good (and probably smell nice, too)!

Some of us might wish to live in an area with moderate temperatures all year long, but we live in coastal Virginia. So while we can’t always have our windows open, the ending of summer and coming of fall might be the best time! Delight in this gorgeous weather, and give A/C Masters a call for all of your heating and cooling needs.

Interested in learning more about Indoor Air Quality? Check out our page explaining common air pollutants, and read this blog to learn how to improve the air quality of your home.