3 Ways To Help An Air Conditioner Beat Extreme Heat

There is regular summer heat and then there is the miserable, extreme, exhaustive summer heat. When the latter description becomes your typical summer day — it is time to start thinking about your air conditioning unit. These systems are designed to work in the heat, but as you might imagine, extreme temperatures can negatively impact how the system works. All homeowners should know how to protect their systems in very hot temperatures. 

1. Schedule Appliance Usage

A clothes dryer, dishwasher, and oven can generate a great deal of heat inside a home, especially if they are all operating at the same time. The greater the temperature of the air inside a home, the harder the air conditioning unit will work to maintain the appropriate temperatures. 

Couple this factor with the intense heat outside and your system will be forced to operate with little rest. Schedule your appliance usage for the cooler parts of the day, such as the early morning or night to keep temperatures lower in your home during the hotter portions of the day.

2. Keep Curtains Closed

The longer periods of sunshine in summer mean that you can rely on more natural light during the day, which comes with the benefit of lower electrical costs. However, the countereffect of this natural light is warmer temperatures inside your home. 

While it might not be necessary to keep all the curtains and blinds closed, you do not want to keep them all open. You should also be mindful of which windows you open, as it is best to keep all sun-facing windows closed to keep excess heat outside and to keep the interior temperature lower. 

3. Maintain a Maintenance Schedule

To keep your air conditioning working efficiently during a heat wave, you should also stay on top of maintenance. First, make sure you change the filters on the schedule. The more debris on the filter, the harder it is for air to pass through, which ultimately means the system will have to work even harder to keep up with the demand. 

Second, have the system serviced at least once a year. Even a minor malfunction with the air conditioning will grow into something greater with the excessive usage that comes with higher outdoor temperatures. 

Ensure you follow these tips and contact an HVAC professional as soon as possible should you discover any issues to keep your air conditioning unit operating efficiently all summer. 

Contact a company like Dr HVAC, Inc to learn more. 

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