The AC unit in your home is a welcome escape on a scorching summer day. When the hot weather arrives in Seymour, WI, nothing feels as nice as a pleasantly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in very high temperatures can have harmful consequences on your HVAC system. From increased energy usage to mechanical stress that causes breakdowns, operating your AC in extreme temperatures can cause damage to your system—and your budget.
The problem is, oppressive heat is when many homeowners depend on their air conditioner to keep their home cool. Fortunately, there are practical ways to help your cooling system perform under pressure. This blog will explore how hot weather affects your air conditioner and summer cooling tips to keep you comfortable while safeguarding your cooling system.
Why Your AC Might Struggle to Keep Up
When it's extremely hot outside, there's a significant gap between the high outdoor temps and the cool indoor temperature you desire. Bridging the temperature gap requires a lot of effort 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 AC unit has to run nonstop it loses efficiency—which in turn raises your electricity costs. Operating your cooling system in extreme heat can overload your cooling system, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to break. 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.
The Importance of Proper Sizing of Your AC
Lowering the chances of your AC overheating and failing starts with picking the correct size AC system for your home. An air conditioner that's not powerful enough can struggle to cool your home even on a mild day. Units that are larger than necessary waste energy and may fail to perform properly.
During air conditioning installation at Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning, our skilled cooling professionals analyze your home’s specific layout and features and your personal cooling needs to recommend the right unit for your home. Factors like your home's size, number of windows and insulation levels are all evaluated to make sure your air conditioner has enough power to cool your home efficiently.
Ways that AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During Extreme Heat
One of the easiest ways to increase your AC efficiency during heat waves is with routine air conditioning maintenance. During our seasonal AC maintenance visits, trained HVAC technicians thoroughly check your AC—checking things like key mechanical elements, connections and coolant amounts. They also enhance system performance by cleaning your unit and swapping out clogged filters, minimizing wear by allowing air to move freely through the system. The technicians at Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning also check for visible damage or brewing problems to repair, which can help prevent avoidable breakdowns during extreme heat.
You can make a difference by doing basic AC system chores in the summer heat. Activities such as inspecting HVAC filters regularly and clearing debris from the outside unit go a long way in enabling the unit to operate efficiently.
Common Misunderstandings About Staying Cool in Extreme Temperatures
Several misconceptions exist about keeping your home cool in hot weather. Here are three facts to the most popular misconceptions we hear about how to keep homes cool in a heatwave:
- Lowering the temperature way down does not cool your home faster. Your AC operates at a fixed rate 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 lower the temperature 5–10 degrees when you leave—but still keep the system on.
- Choosing an air conditioner that's too big 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 properly-sized AC delivers consistent comfort.
Strategies to Help Your AC Handle Extreme Temperatures
Homeowners can take several steps to reduce the risk of an AC overload during heatwaves—while also staying comfortable:
- Adjust your thermostat just a bit higher and run fans to circulate air and make the room feel cooler
- Do routine AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like checking and replacing air filters, and hosing off outdoor unit coils
- Close blinds and curtains to keep out sunlight
- Seal windows and doors to minimize 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 During Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning
Make sure your air conditioner is prepared for the hot weather in Seymour, WI, with AC maintenance from Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning. Our crews will thoroughly check and tune up your unit, making sure it’s operating at peak efficiency. Book your appointment by reaching out to our team at 920-833-7967 today!