Month: September 2022

A roof replacement is a major project. Unfortunately, most of the time, it is not a fun one as it can be extremely expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. This causes a lot of homeowners to wonder how often do roofs need to be replaced actually? In the following, you will find out the answer to better understand when a roof should be replaced according to its material type.

How Long Various Roof Materials Can Last Before Needing Replacement

If you’re currently doing quick research of how often to replace roof, you will find out soon that it actually is not meant to be replaced that frequently. A roof replacement, in theory, is not needed until the end of its lifespan is close enough as long as it is installed by a professionally skilled roofing contractor.

The closest maximum lifespan of a roof can be reached with proper installation, regular maintenance, and adequate attic ventilation. Generally, a replacement shouldn’t be needed until at least 20 years and some even don’t need one until about 50 years. This largely depends on the roofing material used. Here are some of the most common roofing materials and the estimation of when they should be replaced.

• Asphalt Shingles

3-tab asphalt shingles roof can last up to 15 to 20 years prior to requiring replacement. Architectural asphalt shingle roof can survive longer than the former type for about a decade more because it has more resilient nature.

• Clay/Cement Tile Roofing

As one of the hardiest, heaviest, and most resilient roofing materials available, clay or concrete tile roofing provide more protection for a very long time for buildings. It offers a great durability as it can last up to 50 years to nearly a century.

Read also : How Long Do Rubber Roofs Last? Find Out the Answer Here

• Wood Shingles

Under normal circumstances, wood shingles roof should last up to 25 to 30 years. With regular maintenance, it may last longer to around 50 years. Doing a proper upkeep routinely can help to prevent unwanted issue that affect its lifespan the most such as moss growth due to trapped moisture that leads to decay.

• Wood Shakes

Having thicker quality than wood shingles, wood shakes have better resistant to damaging factors such as extreme weather and UV rays so they have longer lifespan at 35 to 40 years at average. However, the key to its durability is again the maintenance.

• Metal Roofing

Metal roofing makes a very good choice for homeowners who are looking for a resilient and durable roofing material. In general, metal roofing materials such as aluminum and steel can last up to 50 years. Sturdier metal roofing materials like copper and zinc can even last up to 100 years.

• Slate Roofing

By far, slate roofing is the most durable option of roofing material in the market. In general, it lasts up to 100 years before needing replacement.

Apart from the original material, a roof’s lifespan is also determined by other factors such as weather and maintenance as well. However, in general, if you wonder how often do roofs need to be replaced may get general answers by reading the estimations above.

Have you ever noticed some collected water under your air conditioning unit? Don’t get suspicious of a leak yet, because it is actually normal for water to be formed throughout the cooling process, as the residue left from water used to cool down the air. However, it is indeed not normal when it seems like there is too many amounts of composed water. So, how much water does an AC unit produce exactly? Discover the answer below.

The Amount and Causes of Water Dripping from Your AC Unit

As a part of its operation process, an air conditioner unit usually generates some water that should drip outside from the drain line. The amount of drained water depends on a couple of factors, mainly the moisture level in the air and the running time of the unit, so it’s quite hard to pinpoint the accurate answer to the question of how much water does an AC unit produce. However, it’s safe to say that in general, about 5 to 20 gallons of water are produced daily.

The process of drained water starter by AC system that draws warm air through evaporator coils that contains refrigerant, resulting in cooler and drier air which is blown out of the ventilators as well as condensed water on the evaporator coils. The water then transfers into the drip pan and drains through a drain line outside.

Note that the water should always drain outside instead of inside. While it’s normal to notice water on the drip pan, it shouldn’t sit there but instead fall and empty via the drain pipe. In case you notice some water fill or drip out of the pan, here are a few possible causes behind this issue:

• Clogged drain pipe

This is the most common culprit behind water pooling on the drip pan. Evaporator coils may collect not only water, but also dirt and debris throughout the process of condensation. They can accumulate over time and cause the drain pipe to be clogged, which in turn causes the drip pan to be overflowing. In some types of HVAC, this may result in automatic turn off.

• Low refrigerant levels

Low levels of refrigerant, which might be caused by the lack of check-up routinely or regular maintenance, will increase the chance of freezing evaporator coil. Frozen coils can lead to water filling up the drip pan that can be challenging to clean up.

• Incorrect installation

Improper installation can cause any part of the AC to have problems, including a filled-up drain pan. This is why it is highly recommended to have your unit to be installed or handled by a properly licensed or trained technician to avoid mechanical issues.

The amount of collected or drained water typically increases during the summer. You may ask or consult to a local professional HVAC technician if you wonder how much water does an AC unit produce and if yours form the normal amount according to the circumstances such as the humidity level of your area.