Your AC is blissful relief on a hot summer day. When the temperatures rise in Fresno, CA, nothing feels as nice as a refreshingly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in very high temperatures can have harmful consequences on your HVAC system. From increased energy usage to physical strain that causes failures, operating your AC in extreme temperatures can cause damage to your system—and your budget.
The problem is, hot weather is when the average household relies on their air conditioner to keep their home cool. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your cooling system perform under pressure. This blog will explore the effects of summer heat on cooling systems and summer cooling tips to help you stay cool while safeguarding your cooling system.
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 cool indoor temperature you desire. Bridging the temperature gap requires a lot of effort on the part of your AC unit, forcing it to operate nonstop to try to cool down your home.
How Extreme Heat Could Affect Air Conditioning Performance
When your cooling system has to run nonstop it operates less efficiently—which in turn raises your electricity costs. Running your AC in extreme heat can overload your cooling system, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to fail entirely. The load caused by hot weather 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 shutting down in extreme temps starts with selecting the right size air conditioner for your home. An air conditioner that's too small can have trouble ensuring your comfort even on a mild day. Units that are larger than necessary waste energy and may cause uneven cooling or high humidity.
During air conditioning installation at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning, our trained AC installation experts carefully evaluate your property and your personal cooling needs to choose the best-cooling system for your home. Factors like your home's square footage, number of windows and insulation levels are all taken into account to make sure your air conditioner has enough power to cool your home efficiently.
Ways that AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During High Heat
One of the most effective strategies to increase air conditioning efficiency during heat waves is to invest in professional air conditioning maintenance. During our routine tune-ups, trained HVAC technicians evaluate the entire unit—checking things like internal components, electrical wiring and fluid pressure. They also enhance system performance by cleaning out buildup and debris and installing clean filters, reducing strain by allowing air to move freely through the system. The technicians at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning also look for any signs of wear or brewing problems to fix, 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 enabling the unit to operate efficiently.
Common Misconceptions About Cooling Your Home in High Heat
Several myths persist about keeping your home cool in extreme heat. Here are three truths to the most popular misconceptions we hear about how to keep homes cool in a heatwave:
- Drastically lowering the temperature setting does not make your home colder faster. Your AC runs at the same speed no matter what temperature you set.
- Turning off your air conditioner 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 lower the temperature 5–10 degrees when you leave—but still leave your AC running.
- Choosing an air conditioner that's too big for your home isn’t the best choice. While large systems have more power, they can finish cooling quickly and shut off too soon, causing uneven cooling, high humidity and other performance issues. A properly-sized AC cools your home better.
Strategies to Help Your Air Conditioning Handle Extreme Heat
Homeowners can take several steps to avoid an AC overload during heatwaves—while also keeping cool:
- Raise your thermostat a little higher and use fans to circulate air and make the room more comfortable
- Do simple AC upkeep in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like checking and replacing air filters, and hosing off outdoor unit coils
- Draw blinds and curtains to block out sunlight
- Seal windows and doors to minimize cool air from leaking out or hot air getting in
- Don't run high-heat appliances like ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers when it's hot outside
Reduce Air Conditioning Issues During Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning
Be sure your air conditioner is all set for the hot weather in Fresno, CA, with AC maintenance from Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. Our crews will carefully check and tune up your unit, making sure it’s working as efficiently as possible. Schedule your appointment by contacting us at 559-255-1644 today!