Long periods of hot and humid weather can put a great deal of strain on your home’s air conditioning system. Heat waves can lead to comfort issues, high electricity usage, shorter equipment lifespans, and AC breakdowns. Let’s explore the steps you can take to avoid your air conditioner overheating this summer.
Monitor Energy Usage and System Cycling
A spike in electricity usage can be among the earliest signs your air conditioner is overheating. Track your cooling-related energy consumption month-to-month and year-to-year. If a spike occurs, you know to schedule professional diagnostics, which can help identify problems early.
When your AC is running, monitor how it performs. A typical central AC cycle is 10 to 15 minutes and should occur 2 to 3 times an hour. An AC running for extended periods is long cycling, which is often an indication of a thermostat or other electrical problem. An AC that turns on and off frequently is short cycling. Causes can range from something as simple as an airflow obstruction to as serious as a refrigerant leak.
- Burning smells
- Loud or unusual noises
- Frequent circuit breaker trips
- Blowing room-temperature air
- Pooling water due to excess condensation
Set a Practical Target Temperature
The greater the difference between the ambient temperature and target indoor temperature, the harder your AC must work. The Department of Energy (DOE) recommends 78 degrees Fahrenheit as an optimal balance between comfort and efficiency. Many households may prefer a cooler temperature. Still, it’s important to emphasize that every degree below that mark can increase your energy bill.
Keep Vents and Interior Doors Open
A typical central AC system has an optimal static air pressure range. If the pressure gets too high, it can lead to comfort issues, lower energy efficiency, and overheating. Prior to summer starting, clean all your return vents and ensure that they’re fully open. Additionally, don’t close the doors to unused rooms, as this restricts airflow and can increase the AC system’s overall pressure.
Benefit From a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Investing in smart thermostat control is among HVAC experts’ top air conditioner efficiency tips. Programmability can keep your AC running in hot weather by limiting how often it cycles. It can also help to prevent overuse during periods when you don’t need as much cooling, such as overnight. The DOE estimates the average household can lower its annual cooling bill by up to 10% through temperature scheduling alone. Households in areas prone to sharp, sudden temperature swings can greatly benefit from real-time weather monitoring as well.
- Adaptive scheduling
- Occupancy sensing
- Filter change alerts
- Predictive maintenance
- Energy monitoring and reporting
- Humidity monitoring
- Heat wave and vacation modes
Schedule a Spring Cooling Tune-Up
Schedule an AC tune-up in early spring, before you need to cool your home. Professional AC maintenance before summer includes a full inspection, thorough cleaning, and fixing normal wear and tear.
There are two aspects of an AC tune-up that are particularly important regarding preparing for heat waves. One is the cleaning of the outdoor condenser coil and the indoor evaporator coil. These components are essential to the refrigeration process and become dirty over time. Dirt and debris serve as an insulator, which causes the system to work harder.
The other aspect is the condensate drainage system, which includes the drip pan, wet switch, and drain line. Condensation is a byproduct of the refrigeration process, and the amount increases during heat waves. If the system isn’t draining properly, that makes it more susceptible to overheating during very hot and humid weather. Seasonal drain line cleaning is enough for most homes. Homeowners who need frequent cleanings may benefit from an automatic drain line cleaning system.
Take Care of Your Outdoor Condenser Unit
Proper AC maintenance during summer extends to your outdoor unit as well. Maintain a perimeter of a few feet around the unit that is free of grass, bushes, and overhanging branches. Once a week, check the outdoor unit for a buildup of leaves, branches, and other debris. Clear debris away with a leaf blower to avoid a restriction of airflow to the condenser coil.
Maintain Your Ductwork
Poorly maintaining your ducts can result in losing 30% or more of your conditioned air. Schedule a duct camera inspection and professional maintenance. The average home will need duct cleaning every five years and duct sealing every 10 years.
AC Filter Management
Choose a high-quality pleated filter to improve air quality and keep your AC equipment clean. When selecting your filter, pay attention to the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). Most modern systems support at least MERV 8 and many as high as MERV 12. Selecting a filter with a higher MERV rating will result in great strain on the AC system.
Have spare filters on hand so that you can perform a quick filter change. Rather than replace your filter on a set schedule, check it at least once a month and replace it when it’s dirty. A filter needs replacement when you can see dust building up on the outer surface. You should also replace a filter if it’s producing a whistling sound or has damage.
Consider a Whole-House Dehumidifier
For comfort and health purposes, maintain an indoor relative humidity of 50% or less. If you can’t maintain that level through AC alone, you should consider investing in a whole-house dehumidifier. Even if you can, a dehumidifier can be a worthwhile investment. It can reduce the strain on your AC and improve its efficiency, especially during heat waves.
Maximize Air Circulation
Make use of ceiling fans throughout your home. Ceiling fans help promote consistent cooling and improve AC effectiveness. During summertime, set your ceiling fans to their maximum speed, moving in a counterclockwise direction.
Improve Your Building Envelope
Decrease your cooling load during heat waves using heat-blocking blinds and shades. Aim to improve your home’s overall building envelope by sealing gaps and cracks. Your roof, attic, siding, windows, and doors can all have a significant impact on cooling performance as well.
Upgrade Your Electrical System
Voltage surges and drops are common occurrences, and our heat wave tips can address this issue. Protect your electrical system through regular inspections and maintenance. If you haven’t yet, consider upgrading your home with whole-house surge protection and an AC surge protector.
Trusted AC Services for Beckley and the Surrounding Areas
Since 1951, Childers Air Plumbing & Electric has been a locally owned and operated HVAC company. We’re a proud Trane Comfort Specialist but service all major brands and models of ducted and ductless ACs and heat pumps. Our team can help you prevent AC breakdowns through seasonal cooling tune-ups. We also offer a maintenance plan that can save you money while making routine tune-ups even more convenient. To learn more about that membership or to schedule an appointment in Beckley, WV, call Childers Air Plumbing & Electric today or contact us online.
