Your air conditioner is a lifesaver on a blazing afternoon. When the summer heat kicks in in Wyandotte, MI, nothing feels as nice as a pleasantly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in extreme heat can have harmful consequences 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 expensive problems.
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 air conditioner survive the hot weather. This blog will discuss how hot weather affects your air conditioner and summer cooling tips to keep you comfortable while safeguarding your cooling system.
Why Your AC Might Struggle to Keep Up
When it's very hot outdoors, there's a significant gap between the intense heat outside and the cool indoor temperature you desire. Bridging the temperature gap requires a lot of energy on the part of your AC unit, making it cycle continuously to try to cool down your home.
How Extreme Heat Affects Air Conditioning Performance
When your air conditioner has to run nonstop it loses efficiency—which in turn increases your utility bills. Running your AC in extreme heat can push your system too hard, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to break. The load caused by hot weather also can cause wear and tear on other components, 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 overheating and failing starts with selecting the right size air conditioner for your home. An air conditioner that's undersized can have trouble ensuring your comfort even on a slightly warm afternoon. Units that are oversized aren’t energy-efficient and may cause uneven cooling or high humidity.
During air conditioning installation at Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning, our experienced HVAC technicians analyze your home’s specific layout and features and your comfort preferences to recommend the right unit for your home. Factors like your home's overall dimensions, floor plan and insulation levels are all taken into account to make sure your air conditioner has the capacity to maintain comfort.
How AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During Extreme Heat
One of the easiest ways to increase your AC efficiency during hot summer spells is with routine air conditioning maintenance. During our pre-summer service calls, trained HVAC technicians thoroughly check your AC—checking things like key mechanical elements, connections and coolant amounts. They also boost efficiency by cleaning out buildup and debris and installing clean filters, minimizing wear by improving airflow through the system. The technicians at Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning also inspect for potential issues or brewing problems to repair, which can help avoid mid-season failures during extreme heat.
Homeowners can help by doing DIY maintenance in warmer months. Activities such as checking and replacing dirty air filters and cleaning the outdoor coils go a long way in maintaining optimal performance.
Common Misconceptions About Staying Cool in Extreme Temperatures
Several myths persist about keeping your home cool in hot weather. Here are three facts to the most frequent misunderstandings we hear about how to keep your AC trouble-free during hot weather:
- Lowering the temperature way down does not make your home colder faster. Your AC runs at the same speed no matter where you set the thermostat.
- Powering down your AC unit when you're not home does not improve energy efficiency. Instead, it lets indoor temps rise and leave your system with a bigger job when you get back home and turn it on. It's better to dial the temp back a few degrees when you leave—but still keep the system on.
- Selecting a larger-than-needed AC unit for your home isn’t the most effective option. While bigger units have more power, they can cool a small space too quickly, causing temperature swings, high humidity and other problems. A properly-sized AC cools your home better.
Strategies to Help Your Cooling System Handle Extreme Heat
Homeowners can take several steps to prevent an AC overload during heatwaves—while also staying comfortable:
- Raise your thermostat a little higher and run fans to move air and make the room feel cooler
- Do basic AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like checking and replacing air filters, and rinsing outdoor unit coils
- Close blinds and curtains to reduce heat gain from sunlight
- Seal windows and doors to stop cool air from leaking out or hot air getting in
- Don't run high-heat appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers when there are high temps
Reduce AC Problems in Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning
Ensure your air conditioner is ready for the hot weather in Wyandotte, MI, with AC maintenance from Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning. Our crews will thoroughly inspect and clean your unit, making sure it’s running at its best. Schedule your appointment by contacting us at 734-284-1224 today!
