By July of each summer, you can bet we’ve suffered through at least one heat wave that baked everyone from Lake George to Saratoga. At Jack Hall, we keep a close eye on the weather so our team can be ready for emergency calls when it’s sweltering outside. To help you stay cool and hopefully avoid a summer HVAC breakdown, here are a few key tips to keep your cooling system running more efficiently when a heat wave hits.
Don’t Expect HVAC Miracles
Your residential AC system is engineered to cool your home to about 20 degrees below the outside temperature. So, if it’s 98 degrees outside, your A/C can realistically get the inside temperature to around 78 degrees. Setting the thermostat to 65 degrees won’t cool things down faster or make the house feel any cooler. What cranking down the thermostat does is make your HVAC system work harder for longer, sending the power bill through the roof. Stick to a reasonable thermostat setting during extreme heat.
Preventive Maintenance Goes a Long Way
If an AC system hasn’t been properly maintained, a heat wave will push it to the limit. Many of the emergency calls Jack Hall’s technicians respond to could have been avoided by routine maintenance. Worn, overworked system components, debris buildup, and even something as simple as a dirty filter can shut down your AC in the middle of a hot stretch of weather. Scheduling HVAC cleaning and maintenance in the spring will help ensure you stay cool all summer long.
Ceiling Fans Can Chill Indoor Air
While ceiling fans aren’t strong enough to lower the temperature in a room, they do make a space feel several degrees cooler than it really is due to the “wind chill effect.” Because you feel cooler, you can raise the thermostat a few degrees and still be comfortable, which saves energy and takes some pressure off the HVAC system. Make sure your fans are turning in the right direction. In the summer, blades should spin counter-clockwise to push air down.
Keep the Area Around the Outdoor Unit Clear
It’s a good idea to check your outdoor condenser unit to make sure it’s clear of any debris especially when a heatwave is on the way. Leaves, bushes, grass clippings, and other outdoor junk can get into the condenser and cause performance issues. There should be at least three feet of clearance between the condenser and any plant overgrowth. Vegetation can reduce airflow, trapping the hot air your AC is working hard to expel from the house.
Reduce the Amount of Passive Heating
When hot weather hits, every bit of heat generated inside your house makes it feel more uncomfortable. It’s smart to keep blinds closed, especially in rooms that get a lot of sunlight. Also, try to minimize the use of appliances such as the oven or clothes dryer, as these add heat that the AC unit has to work even harder to remove. Grab a cold beverage, cook out on the grill, and do your best to keep kids from going in and out of the house and letting the cool air escape.
Your AC Isn’t Broken – It’s Working Overtime
When it’s hot, humid, and the heat index is in the triple digits, your AC system is going to be running a marathon to cool your home. But just because it’s running longer cycles doesn’t mean the unit is failing, it’s doing its best based on the way it was engineered. In the hottest part of a heat wave afternoon, it may run nonstop to keep the inside temperature under control. Don’t panic! If your home is staying relatively cool and the air coming out of the vents feels cold, the AC is getting the job done.
Beat the Summer Heat with Jack Hall’s HVAC Services
Jack Hall Plumbing & Heating has helped our customers from Lake George to Queensbury to Saratoga keep their AC systems running strong through hot summers since 1984. Whether you need routine maintenance or have an HVAC emergency, Jack Hall’s technicians provide high-quality service in a timely manner. Contact us today to learn more about how Jack Hall can help you beat the heat every summer.