Extreme heat usually feels unbearable. Hot weather keeps your air conditioning running a lot during the summer, so making sure you can reduce your risk for having it break down is important. Here are some ways to keep your air conditioning functioning well – even when the weather gets extremely hot.
#1: Use your windows to your advantage.
During the day, sunlight will stream into your windows and heat it up. If your AC is running at the same time, it must work harder to cool the air that is warming from the sunlight. So, consider closing your blinds or curtains during the daylight hours to prevent the sun from heating the inside even more. In addition, when the weather is cooler – either at night or in the morning – open your windows and use that to your advantage to cool the home.
#2: Don’t run your AC on full speed when you don’t need to.
Why use your air conditioner if you don’t have to? If you are away at work or on vacation, there is no need to keep your machine running at full speed. Turn the temperature up on the machine or turn it off completely. Or, consider using fans instead. Another great way to minimize your AC usage and help prolong its life is by using a programmable thermostat. This allows you to set a smart schedule for your cooling system, programming it to kick on or off when you need it. This maximizes efficiency and saves energy.
#3: Think about lights and appliance usage.
If it’s hot outside, consider not using your dryer or dishwasher’s heat cycle until things cool down. Appliances that use heat could be causing the temperature inside your home to increase, which makes your air conditioner work harder to keep things cool. The same goes with lights. Turn them off when you leave the room, so they don’t contribute to excess heat or wasted energy.
#4: Stay on top of AC maintenance.
Professional annual tune-ups from our team at Climate Control will ensure your cooling system is running at peak efficiency and that everything is in good working order. This helps diagnose any potential problems before they turn into big issues.
#5: Change your air filters.
Your air filters should be changed or cleaned every month or every other month. This ensures that the air flowing into your home is clean, but it also keeps your machine functioning at maximum efficiency. If the filters are clogged, the system has to work harder, which puts unnecessary strain on it.
