Your air conditioner is a lifesaver on a blazing afternoon. When the summer heat kicks in in Plainfield, IL, nothing feels as nice as a pleasantly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in extreme heat can have damaging impacts on your HVAC system. From reduced efficiency that spikes energy costs to mechanical stress that causes malfunctions, operating your AC in extreme temperatures can cause expensive problems.
The problem is, oppressive heat is when many homeowners depend on their air conditioner to stay comfortable. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your cooling system survive the hot weather. 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 ideal indoor climate you expect. Cooling your home down to the desired indoor temperature requires a lot of energy from your air conditioner, forcing it to operate nonstop to try to cool down your home.
How Extreme Heat Could Affect AC Performance
When your air conditioner has to run nonstop it loses efficiency—which in turn raises your electricity costs. Running your AC in extreme heat can put excessive strain on your AC, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to stop working. The load caused by hot weather also can cause wear and tear on other parts, leading to equipment failure that require air conditioning repair.
The Importance of Proper Sizing of Your AC
Reducing the risk of your AC shutting down in extreme temps starts with picking the correct size AC system for your home. An air conditioner that's undersized can struggle to cool your home even on a mild day. Units that are oversized aren’t energy-efficient and may fail to perform properly.
During air conditioning installation at Joel's Heating and Cooling, our skilled cooling professionals thoroughly assess your home and your comfort preferences 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 easiest ways to increase your AC efficiency during hot summer spells is to schedule expert air conditioning maintenance. During our seasonal AC maintenance visits, qualified professionals thoroughly check your AC—checking things like critical parts, connections and coolant amounts. They also enhance system performance by cleaning your unit and swapping out clogged filters, minimizing wear by improving airflow through the system. The technicians at Joel's Heating and Cooling also check for visible damage or brewing problems to repair, which can help prevent avoidable breakdowns during extreme heat.
Residents can help safeguard their AC by doing simple upkeep in hot weather. Activities such as swapping out old AC air filters and cleaning the outdoor coils go a long way in enabling the unit to operate efficiently.
Common Misconceptions About Cooling Your Home in High Heat
Several misconceptions exist about keeping your home cool in extreme heat. Here are three clarifications to the most popular misconceptions we hear about how to stay comfortable during a heatwave:
- Setting your thermostat extremely low does not speed up the cooling process. Your AC operates at a fixed rate no matter where you set the thermostat.
- Shutting your AC off completely when you're not home does not reduce your utility bills. Instead, it gives heat a chance to build and leave your system with more to do 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.
- Selecting a larger-than-needed AC unit for your home isn’t the best choice. While bigger units have more power, they can cool a small space too quickly, causing inconsistent temperatures, moisture buildup and other problems. A properly-sized AC delivers consistent comfort.
Ways to Help Your System Handle Extreme Heat
Homeowners can take several steps to prevent an AC overload during heatwaves—while also keeping cool:
- Adjust your thermostat a few degrees higher and run fans to move air and make the room feel cooler
- Do basic AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like inspecting and replacing air filters, and cleaning outdoor unit coils
- Shut blinds and curtains to keep out sunlight
- Seal windows and doors to stop cool air from leaking out or hot air entering the home
- Don't run high-heat appliances like ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers during hot weather
Avoid Air Conditioning Issues in Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Joel's Heating and Cooling
Make sure your air conditioner is prepared for the hot weather in Plainfield, IL, with AC maintenance from Joel's Heating and Cooling. Our crews will thoroughly examine and service your unit, making sure it’s running at its best. Schedule your appointment by contacting us at 815-556-1046 today!