Your air conditioner is a welcome escape on a scorching summer day. When the hot weather arrives in Sandpoint, ID, nothing feels as nice as a refreshingly air-conditioned home. Unfortunately, running your AC in extreme heat can have harmful consequences on your HVAC system. From reduced efficiency that spikes energy costs to wear and tear that causes malfunctions, operating your AC in intense heat can cause expensive problems.
The problem is, sweltering heat is when the average household relies on their air conditioner to stay comfortable. Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to help your AC unit make it through the heat. This blog will discuss ways high temperatures affect your AC and summer cooling tips to keep you comfortable while safeguarding your cooling system.
Why Your AC Has Problems Keeping Up in Hot Weather
When it's extremely hot outside, there's a huge difference between the high outdoor temps and the cool indoor temperature you desire. Closing that difference between the two temperatures requires a lot of effort from your air conditioner, forcing it to operate nonstop to try to cool down your home.
How Extreme Heat Impacts AC Performance
When your AC unit has to work extra hard in high heat it becomes less effective—which in turn increases your utility bills. Operating your cooling system in intense summer weather can put excessive strain on your AC, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to stop working. The stress from high temperatures also can cause wear and tear on other components, 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 breaking down in high heat starts with picking the correct size AC system 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 larger than necessary consume more power and may cause uneven cooling or high humidity.
During air conditioning installation at Age Heating & Cooling, our skilled cooling professionals carefully evaluate your property and your comfort preferences to choose the best-cooling system for your home. Factors like your home's square footage, number of windows and insulation levels are all carefully reviewed 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 easiest ways to increase your AC efficiency during hot summer spells is to invest in professional air conditioning maintenance. During our routine tune-ups, experienced cooling specialists thoroughly check your AC—checking things like critical parts, electrical wiring and refrigerant levels. They also boost efficiency by cleaning your unit and installing clean filters, minimizing wear by improving airflow through the system. The technicians at Age Heating & Cooling also check for visible damage or brewing problems to fix, which can help prevent avoidable breakdowns during extreme heat.
Homeowners can help by doing simple upkeep in warmer months. Activities such as swapping out old AC air filters and clearing debris from the outside unit go a long way in enabling the unit to operate efficiently.
Common Misconceptions About Staying Cool in Extreme Temperatures
Several misconceptions exist about keeping your home cool in extreme heat. Here are three truths to the most frequent misunderstandings we hear about how to keep your AC trouble-free during hot weather:
- Drastically lowering the temperature setting does not speed up the cooling process. Your AC will cool your home at a steady pace no matter where you set the thermostat.
- 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 extra work when you get back home and turn it on. It's better to lower the temperature 5–10 degrees when you leave—but still keep the system on.
- Selecting a larger-than-needed AC unit for your home isn’t the best choice. While high-capacity models have more power, they can finish cooling quickly and shut off too soon, causing inconsistent temperatures, moisture buildup and other problems. A right-sized system delivers consistent comfort.
Ways to Help Your Cooling System Handle Extreme Heat
There are many things homeowners can do to prevent an AC overload during heatwaves—while also keeping cool:
- Set your thermostat just a bit higher and use fans to circulate air and make the room feel cooler
- Do basic AC upkeep in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like checking and replacing air filters, and rinsing outdoor unit coils
- Draw blinds and curtains to reduce heat gain from 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 Problems During Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Age Heating & Cooling
Make sure your air conditioner is all set for the hot weather in Sandpoint, ID, with AC maintenance from Age Heating & Cooling. Our crews will carefully check and tune up your unit, making sure it’s running at its best. Book your appointment by calling 208-603-2210 today!
