Your air conditioner is blissful relief on a scorching summer day. When the hot weather arrives in Cottonwood, AZ, nothing feels as satisfying as a pleasantly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in intense summer heat can have damaging impacts on your HVAC system. From increased energy usage to mechanical stress that causes breakdowns, operating your AC in intense heat can cause damage to your system—and your budget.
The problem is, hot weather is when most people really count on their air conditioner to keep their home cool. Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to help your air conditioner make it through the heat. This blog will cover 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 Might Struggle to Keep Up
When it's very hot outdoors, there's a major difference between the high outdoor temps and the cool indoor temperature you desire. Closing that difference between the two temperatures requires a lot of energy from your cooling system, 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 loses efficiency—which in turn increases your utility bills. Running your AC in extreme heat can put excessive strain on your AC, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to break. The stress from high temperatures also can cause wear and tear on other parts, leading to mechanical issues 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 choosing a properly sized AC for your home. An air conditioner that's too small can have trouble ensuring your comfort even on a moderate summer day. Units that are too big aren’t energy-efficient and may fail to perform properly.
During air conditioning installation at Connolly Electric & Mechanical, our trained AC installation experts analyze your home’s specific layout and features and your personal cooling needs to find the ideal AC 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.
Ways that 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 invest in professional air conditioning maintenance. During our pre-summer service calls, experienced cooling specialists thoroughly check your AC—checking things like critical parts, connections and refrigerant levels. They also boost efficiency by cleaning your unit and replacing dirty air filters, minimizing wear by allowing air to move freely through the system. The technicians at Connolly Electric & Mechanical also check for visible damage or brewing problems to fix, which can help prevent avoidable breakdowns during extreme heat.
You can make a difference by doing basic AC system chores in hot weather. Activities such as inspecting HVAC filters regularly and cleaning the outdoor coils go a long way in maintaining optimal performance.
Common Misconceptions About Air Conditioning Homes During Heatwaves
Several misconceptions exist about keeping your home cool in high temperatures. Here are three clarifications to the most frequent misunderstandings we hear about how to keep homes cool in a heatwave:
- Lowering the temperature way down does not speed up the cooling process. Your AC will cool your home at a steady pace no matter how low you set the temperature.
- Powering down your AC unit when you're not home does not save energy. Instead, it lets indoor temps rise and leave your system with more to do 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 leave your AC running.
- Selecting a larger-than-needed AC unit for your home isn’t the smartest solution. While bigger units have more power, they can finish cooling quickly and shut off too soon, causing temperature swings, moisture buildup and other problems. A right-sized system performs more efficiently.
Strategies to Help Your Air Conditioning Handle Extreme Temperatures
There are many things homeowners can do to reduce the risk of an AC overload during heatwaves—while also enjoying a cool and comfortable home:
- Set your thermostat just a bit higher and turn on fans to circulate air and make the room more comfortable
- Do routine AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like checking and replacing air filters, and hosing off outdoor unit coils
- Shut blinds and curtains to block out sunlight
- Weatherproof windows and doors to stop cool air from leaking out or hot air getting in
- Don't run heat-generating appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers during hot weather
Avoid Cooling Issues During Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Connolly Electric & Mechanical
Make sure your air conditioner is ready for the hot weather in Cottonwood, AZ, with AC maintenance from Connolly Electric & Mechanical. Our crews will carefully examine and service your unit, making sure it’s operating at peak efficiency. Schedule your appointment by reaching out to our team at 928-862-5977 today!
