Your air conditioner is blissful relief on a scorching summer day. When the hot weather arrives in Edmond, OK, nothing feels as satisfying as a pleasantly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in very high temperatures can have negative effects on your HVAC system. From reduced efficiency that spikes energy costs to wear and tear that causes breakdowns, operating your AC in hot weather can cause expensive problems.
The problem is, oppressive heat is when many homeowners depend on their air conditioner to stay comfortable. Fortunately, there are practical ways to help your air conditioner survive the hot weather. This blog will cover ways high temperatures affect your AC and summer cooling tips to maintain comfort while safeguarding your cooling system.
Why Your AC Has Problems Keeping Up in Hot Weather
When it's very hot outdoors, there's a significant gap between the high outdoor temps and the cool indoor temperature you desire. Bridging the temperature gap requires a lot of effort from your air conditioner, forcing it to operate nonstop to try to cool down your home.
How Extreme Heat Could Affect Air Conditioning Performance
When your AC unit has to run more often, or even constantly it loses efficiency—which in turn increases your utility bills. Using your air conditioner in intense summer weather can push your system too hard, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to stop working. The stress from high temperatures also can cause wear and tear on other parts, leading to equipment failure that require air conditioning repair.
Why It's So Important to Have the Right Size AC in Your Home
Reducing the risk of your AC breaking down in high heat starts with picking the correct size AC system for your home. An air conditioner that's undersized can have trouble ensuring your comfort even on a mild day. Units that are too big consume more power and may fail to perform properly.
During air conditioning installation at Prudhom Mechanical, our experienced HVAC technicians thoroughly assess your home and your comfort preferences to choose the best-cooling system for your home. Factors like your home's size, floor plan and insulation levels are all evaluated to make sure your air conditioner has the capacity to maintain comfort.
How AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During a Heatwave
One of the smartest ways to boost air conditioner effectiveness during heat waves is with routine air conditioning maintenance. During our seasonal AC maintenance visits, experienced cooling specialists inspect your system—checking things like key mechanical elements, connections and fluid pressure. They also boost efficiency by cleaning your unit and replacing dirty air filters, easing the load by improving airflow through the system. The technicians at Prudhom Mechanical also inspect for potential issues or brewing problems to fix, which can help prevent avoidable breakdowns during extreme heat.
Residents can help safeguard their AC by doing DIY maintenance in hot weather. Activities such as inspecting HVAC filters regularly and cleaning the outdoor coils go a long way in enabling the unit to operate efficiently.
Common Misunderstandings About Cooling Your Home in High Heat
Several myths persist about keeping your home cool in extreme heat. Here are three facts to the most common myths we hear about how to keep your AC trouble-free during hot weather:
- Lowering the temperature way down does not speed up the cooling process. Your AC runs at the same speed no matter what temperature you set.
- Shutting your AC off completely when you're not home does not reduce your utility bills. Instead, it allows your house to heat up and leave your system with more to do when you come home and turn the air back on. It's better to dial the temp back a few degrees when you leave—but still keep the system on.
- Choosing an air conditioner that's too big for your home isn’t the most effective option. While large systems have more power, they can cool a small space too quickly, causing temperature swings, moisture buildup and other problems. A right-sized system performs more efficiently.
Ways to Help Your AC Handle Extreme Heat
There's a lot you can do to avoid an AC overload during heatwaves—while also staying comfortable:
- Raise your thermostat a few degrees higher and use fans to move air and make the room feel cooler
- Do simple AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like inspecting and replacing air filters, and rinsing outdoor unit coils
- Close blinds and curtains to block out sunlight
- Weatherproof windows and doors to stop cool air from leaking out or hot air entering the home
- Don't run high-heat appliances like ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers when it's hot outside
Reduce Cooling Problems in Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Prudhom Mechanical
Be sure your air conditioner is prepared for the hot weather in Edmond, OK, with AC maintenance from Prudhom Mechanical. Our crews will carefully inspect and clean your unit, making sure it’s working as efficiently as possible. Schedule your appointment by reaching out to our team at 405-294-4618 today!