The Complete Monsoon AC Guide: Why Your AC Behaves Differently in Gujarat's Humidity

"It's only 32 degrees, but I'm sweating more than when it was 42 degrees in May," Mrs. Amin from Surat told me in July. "And my AC seems to be working harder but the room doesn't feel comfortable. Is something wrong with my AC?"

Nothing was wrong with her AC. She was experiencing Gujarat's monsoon humidity - and discovering why temperature and comfort are not the same thing.

The Humidity Factor Gujarat Residents Know Too Well

In May, Ahmedabad hits 44-46°C. Dry heat. You sweat, it evaporates, you feel relatively okay (as okay as you can feel at 46°C).

In July-August, temperature drops to 32-34°C. But humidity jumps to 70-85%. Now you sweat, and it doesn't evaporate. You feel sticky, uncomfortable, suffocating.

This is why 32°C with 80% humidity feels worse than 40°C with 30% humidity.

Your AC understands temperature. It struggles with humidity.

How Gujarat's Monsoon Affects Different Cities

Ahmedabad

Humidity: 65-75% during monsoon. The city's inland location means slightly lower humidity than coastal areas, but combined with temperatures around 30-34°C, it's oppressively muggy. Peak discomfort: July-August.

Surat

Humidity: 75-90% during monsoon. Being coastal, Surat experiences the highest humidity in Gujarat. Temperature around 28-32°C, but feels like 38-40°C due to humidity. AC units work overtime here.

Rajkot

Humidity: 70-80% during monsoon. Central Gujarat location means moderate humidity, but still enough to make 32°C feel oppressive.

Vadodara

Humidity: 70-80% during monsoon. Similar to Ahmedabad, with heavy humidity making moderate temperatures feel uncomfortable.

Why Your AC Struggles During Monsoon

Your AC has two jobs:

1. Remove heat (lower temperature)
2. Remove moisture (lower humidity)

In May's dry heat, job #1 is primary. In August's humid monsoon, job #2 becomes equally important - but your AC isn't optimized for it.

Here's what happens:

1. The AC quickly reaches set temperature - You set it to 24°C. Room hits 24°C in 10 minutes. AC shuts off.

2. But humidity is still 75% - The room is 24°C but feels like 28°C because of moisture.

3. You feel uncomfortable - So you lower temperature to 22°C, then 20°C, trying to feel better.

4. AC cycles constantly - Trying to maintain lower temperature while fighting high humidity. Uses more electricity. Wears components faster.

The Dehumidification Mode Nobody Uses

Most modern ACs have a "Dry" or "Dehumidification" mode. That icon that looks like water drops? That's it.

In this mode:

• Fan runs slower
• Compressor cycles strategically
• Focus shifts from cooling to moisture removal
• Room stays at comfortable temperature (maybe 1-2°C higher) but feels better because humidity is lower

Mrs. Amin's problem? She was running AC on cooling mode at 20°C, fighting humidity by brute-forcing temperature.

We switched to Dry mode at 24°C. Her electricity bill dropped by 25%. She felt more comfortable.

The Right Way to Use AC During Gujarat's Monsoon

Monsoon AC Maintenance Checklist for Gujarat

Monsoon is the second-most important time for AC maintenance (after pre-summer). Here's why:

The Mold and Bacteria Problem

High humidity + AC operation = perfect conditions for mold growth inside your unit. The evaporator coil is cold and wet. In monsoon, it stays wet longer. Mold loves this.

What to do:

• Pre-monsoon (June): Get AC deep cleaned. Remove accumulated dust and prepare unit for humidity
• During monsoon: Clean filters every 2 weeks (not monthly like summer)
• Post-monsoon (October): Get another deep cleaning to remove mold/bacteria growth from monsoon usage

The Drain Pipe Issue

Your AC removes moisture and drains it through a pipe. In monsoon, it's working overtime. If that drain pipe is partially clogged, water backs up into the unit.

Check monthly: Is water draining properly? Pour a cup of water in the drain pan. It should drain completely within 30 seconds.

The Electrical Safety Concern

Gujarat's monsoon brings voltage fluctuations and power cuts. These damage AC electronics.

Protect your investment:

• Use a stabilizer (if your area has voltage issues)
• Turn off AC during thunderstorms (lightning surges)
• Don't restart AC immediately after power returns - wait 3-5 minutes

Understanding Feels-Like Temperature

Meteorologists use "feels-like" or "heat index" temperature. Here's Gujarat's reality:

The Electricity Bill Surprise

Many customers call me confused: "My AC is running less (temperature is lower than summer) but my electricity bill is higher. Why?"

Because your AC is working harder to remove humidity. The compressor runs more aggressively. The unit cycles frequently. You've set temperature lower trying to feel comfortable.

Solution: Use Dry mode properly. Your bill will normalize.

When to Not Use AC (Yes, Really)

On rare pleasant monsoon days when:

• Temperature is 28-30°C
• Humidity drops below 60% (after good rainfall)
• Natural breeze is present

Open windows, use ceiling fan, enjoy natural ventilation. Give your AC a break. It's worked hard through May-June summer. These occasional breaks extend its lifespan.

Special Case: Surat's Extreme Humidity

Surat residents deal with India's highest urban humidity during monsoon. Some years, it stays 80-90% for weeks.

For Surat specifically:

• Consider a dehumidifier as supplement to AC
• Run AC in Dry mode almost exclusively during peak monsoon
• More frequent filter cleaning (every 10 days instead of 2 weeks)
• Post-monsoon deep cleaning is non-negotiable

Real Customer Experience: The Surat Office

A Surat office called me in August. Five ACs, all "not cooling properly." Temperature showed 24°C. Everyone was uncomfortable and sweating.

I checked humidity: 82% inside the office.

We switched all ACs to Dry mode, raised temperature setting to 25°C. Within 30 minutes, humidity dropped to 55%. Temperature was actually 25-26°C, but everyone felt more comfortable than when it was 24°C with high humidity.

Their monthly electricity bill: Dropped from ₹18,000 to ₹13,000.