Your air conditioner is a welcome escape on a scorching summer day. When the hot weather arrives in Columbus, OH, nothing feels quite so good as a pleasantly air-conditioned home. Unfortunately, running your AC in extreme heat can have harmful consequences on your HVAC system. From energy inefficiency that runs up your power bills to wear and tear that causes breakdowns, operating your AC in intense heat can cause expensive problems.
The problem is, hot weather is when the average household relies on their air conditioner to keep their home cool. Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to help your air conditioner perform under pressure. This blog will cover how hot weather affects your air conditioner 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 significant gap between the intense heat outside and the cool indoor temperature you desire. Bridging the temperature gap requires a lot of work from your cooling system, making it cycle continuously to try to cool down your home.
How Extreme Heat Could Affect AC Performance
When your air conditioner 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 put excessive strain on your AC, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to fail entirely. The strain heat puts on your AC 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
Lowering the chances of your AC shutting down in extreme temps starts with choosing a properly sized AC for your home. An air conditioner that's too small can work harder than necessary to cool your home even on a slightly warm afternoon. Units that are too big waste energy and may cause uneven cooling or high humidity.
During air conditioning installation at Classic Air, our experienced HVAC technicians analyze your home’s specific layout and features and your comfort preferences to choose the best-cooling system for your home. Factors like your home's overall dimensions, 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.
How AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During Extreme Heat
One of the smartest ways to boost air conditioner effectiveness during hot summer spells is to schedule expert air conditioning maintenance. During our seasonal AC maintenance visits, qualified professionals inspect your system—checking things like internal components, 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 Classic Air also look for any signs of wear or brewing problems to address, which can help avoid mid-season failures during extreme heat.
You can make a difference by doing DIY maintenance in the summer heat. Activities such as checking and replacing dirty air filters and clearing debris from the outside unit go a long way in maintaining optimal performance.
Common Myths About Staying Cool in Extreme Temperatures
Several myths persist about keeping your home cool in high temperatures. Here are three truths to the most common myths we hear about how to keep your AC trouble-free during hot weather:
- Setting your thermostat extremely low does not cool your home faster. 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 lets indoor temps rise and leave your system with a bigger job 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.
- Installing an oversized AC for your home isn’t the most effective option. While large systems have more power, they can finish cooling quickly and shut off too soon, causing temperature swings, moisture buildup and other performance issues. A right-sized system cools your home better.
Strategies to Help Your Cooling System Handle Extreme Heat
There are many things homeowners can do to avoid an AC overload during heatwaves—while also enjoying a cool and comfortable home:
- Raise your thermostat a few degrees higher and run fans to move air and make the room more comfortable
- Do routine AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like inspecting and replacing air filters, and hosing off outdoor unit coils
- Draw blinds and curtains to block out sunlight
- Weatherproof windows and doors to prevent cool air from leaking out or hot air entering the home
- Don't run high-heat appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers when there are high temps
Avoid AC Breakdowns in Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Classic Air
Be sure your air conditioner is ready for the hot weather in Columbus, OH, with AC maintenance from Classic Air. Our crews will meticulously inspect and clean your unit, making sure it’s operating at peak efficiency. Set up your appointment by calling 614-739-1627 today!