Your AC is blissful relief on a blazing afternoon. When the summer heat kicks in in Frederick, MD, nothing feels as nice as a refreshingly air-conditioned home. Unfortunately, running your AC in intense summer heat can have negative effects on your HVAC system. From reduced efficiency that spikes energy costs to physical strain that causes failures, operating your AC in intense heat can cause damage to your system—and your budget.
The problem is, oppressive heat is when many homeowners depend on their air conditioner to keep their home cool. Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to help your AC unit make it through the heat. This blog will discuss how hot weather affects your air conditioner and summer cooling tips to maintain comfort while avoiding unnecessary wear and tear on your AC.
Why Your AC May Not Keep Up with the Heat
When it's extremely hot outside, there's a major difference between the intense heat outside and the comfortably chilled air you want in your home. Bridging the temperature gap requires a lot of effort from your air conditioner, making it cycle continuously to try to cool down your home.
How Extreme Heat Could Affect Air Conditioning Performance
When your air conditioner has to run more often, or even constantly it operates less efficiently—which in turn increases your utility bills. Using your air conditioner in intense summer weather can put excessive strain on your AC, 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 components, leading to equipment failure that require air conditioning repair.
The Importance of Proper Sizing of Your AC
Reducing the risk of your AC breaking down in high heat starts with choosing a properly sized AC for your home. An air conditioner that's not powerful enough can have trouble ensuring your comfort even on a moderate summer day. Units that are larger than necessary consume more power and may cause uneven cooling or high humidity.
During air conditioning installation at America's Green Heating & Air Conditioning, our skilled cooling professionals carefully evaluate your property and your comfort preferences to recommend the right unit for your home. Factors like your home's size, room configuration and insulation levels are all evaluated to make sure your air conditioner has what it takes to handle summer heat effectively.
Ways that AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During High Heat
One of the smartest ways to boost air conditioner effectiveness during heat waves is to invest in professional air conditioning maintenance. During our seasonal AC maintenance visits, qualified professionals inspect your system—checking things like key mechanical elements, connections and fluid pressure. They also enhance system performance by cleaning your unit and replacing dirty air filters, easing the load by improving airflow through the system. The technicians at America's Green Heating & Air Conditioning also check for visible damage or brewing problems to repair, which can help avoid mid-season failures during extreme heat.
You can make a difference by doing simple upkeep in the summer heat. Activities such as swapping out old AC air filters and making sure the coils on the outdoor unit are clean go a long way in maintaining optimal performance.
Common Misunderstandings About Staying Cool in Extreme Temperatures
Several misconceptions exist about keeping your home cool in hot weather. Here are three truths to the most popular misconceptions we hear about how to stay comfortable during a heatwave:
- Drastically lowering the temperature setting does not speed up the cooling process. Your AC operates at a fixed rate no matter what temperature you set.
- Shutting your AC off completely when you're not home does not improve energy efficiency. Instead, it gives heat a chance to build and leave your system with extra work when you return and restart the system. It's better to adjust the setting slightly when you leave—but still leave your AC running.
- Selecting a larger-than-needed AC unit for your home isn’t the best choice. While large systems have more power, they can cool a small space too quickly, causing uneven cooling, high humidity and other performance issues. A unit that's appropriately sized cools your home better.
Strategies to Help Your Cooling System Handle Extreme Temperatures
There are many things homeowners can do to prevent an AC overload during heatwaves—while also keeping cool:
- Set your thermostat a few degrees higher and use fans to move air and make the room more comfortable
- Do basic AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like checking and replacing air filters, and rinsing outdoor unit coils
- Draw blinds and curtains to reduce heat gain from sunlight
- Weatherproof windows and doors to prevent cool air from leaking out or hot air entering the home
- Don't run heat-generating appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers when there are high temps
Avoid Air Conditioning Breakdowns During Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from America's Green Heating & Air Conditioning
Make sure your air conditioner is ready for the hot weather in Frederick, MD, with AC maintenance from America's Green Heating & Air Conditioning. Our crews will carefully examine and service your unit, making sure it’s working as efficiently as possible. Schedule your appointment by contacting us at 301-208-0800 today!