Your air conditioner is blissful relief on a blazing afternoon. When the summer heat kicks in in Wilmington, DE, nothing feels as nice as a refreshingly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in intense summer heat can have harmful consequences on your HVAC system. From reduced efficiency that spikes energy costs to mechanical stress that causes failures, operating your AC in intense heat can cause damage to your system—and your budget.
The problem is, hot weather 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 survive the hot weather. This blog will discuss how hot weather affects your air conditioner and summer cooling tips to help you stay cool while protecting your HVAC system from damage.
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 ideal indoor climate you expect. Closing that difference between the two temperatures requires a lot of work from your AC unit, making it cycle continuously to try to cool down your home.
How Extreme Heat Could Affect AC Performance
When your cooling system has to run more often, or even constantly it loses efficiency—which in turn increases your utility bills. Using your air conditioner in on hot days 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 mechanical issues 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 selecting the right size air conditioner for your home. An air conditioner that's undersized can work harder than necessary to cool your home even on a moderate summer day. Units that are oversized consume more power and may cause uneven cooling or high humidity.
During air conditioning installation at Brandywine Heating & Air, our experienced HVAC technicians carefully evaluate your property and your personal cooling needs to recommend the right unit for your home. Factors like your home's size, room configuration and insulation levels are all carefully reviewed to make sure your air conditioner has what it takes to handle summer heat effectively.
Ways that AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During Extreme Heat
One of the easiest ways to increase your AC efficiency during hot summer spells is to schedule expert air conditioning maintenance. During our seasonal AC maintenance visits, trained HVAC technicians inspect your system—checking things like critical parts, electrical wiring and refrigerant levels. They also boost efficiency by cleaning out buildup and debris and swapping out clogged filters, reducing strain by improving airflow through the system. The technicians at Brandywine Heating & Air also inspect for potential issues or brewing problems to address, which can help prevent avoidable breakdowns during extreme heat.
Homeowners can help by doing DIY maintenance in warmer months. Activities such as inspecting HVAC filters regularly and cleaning the outdoor coils go a long way in helping your system run better.
Common Misconceptions About Staying Cool in Extreme Temperatures
Several misconceptions exist about keeping your home cool in high temperatures. Here are three truths 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 what temperature you set.
- Turning off your air conditioner when you're not home does not save energy. Instead, it allows your house to heat up 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.
- Choosing an air conditioner that's too big for your home isn’t the most effective option. While bigger units have more power, they can finish cooling quickly and shut off too soon, causing uneven cooling, high humidity and other problems. A properly-sized AC cools your home better.
Strategies to Help Your HVAC System Handle Extreme Temperatures
There's a lot you can do to avoid an AC overload during heatwaves—while also keeping cool:
- Set your thermostat a little higher and turn on fans to move air and make the room more comfortable
- Do basic AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like inspecting and replacing air filters, and hosing off outdoor unit coils
- Shut blinds and curtains to keep out sunlight
- Weatherproof windows and doors to minimize cool air from leaking out or hot air getting inside
- Don't run high-heat appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers when it's hot outside
Reduce Cooling Breakdowns During Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Brandywine Heating & Air
Ensure your air conditioner is ready for the hot weather in Wilmington, DE, with AC maintenance from Brandywine Heating & Air. Our crews will carefully inspect and clean your unit, making sure it’s running at its best. Set up your appointment by calling 302-246-7971 today!