Your AC is blissful relief on a hot summer day. When the summer heat kicks in in Mankato, MN, nothing feels as nice as a pleasantly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in extreme heat can have damaging impacts on your HVAC system. From increased energy usage to physical strain that causes malfunctions, operating your AC in extreme temperatures can cause expensive problems.

The problem is, hot weather is when many homeowners depend on their air conditioner to keep their home cool. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your air conditioner survive the hot weather. This blog will explore how hot weather affects your air conditioner and summer cooling tips to maintain comfort while protecting your HVAC system from damage.

Why Your AC Has Problems Keeping Up in Hot Weather

When it's extremely hot outside, there's a huge difference between the hot outdoor temperature and the ideal indoor climate you expect. Cooling your home down to the desired indoor temperature requires a lot of energy from your air conditioner, requiring it to run constantly to try to cool down your home.

How Extreme Heat Could Affect Air Conditioning Performance

When your air conditioner has to run more often, or even constantly it becomes less effective—which in turn raises your electricity costs. Running your AC in intense summer weather can push your system too hard, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to fail entirely. The strain heat puts on your AC also can cause wear and tear on other components, leading to equipment failure that require air conditioning repair.

The Importance of Proper Sizing of Your AC

Lowering the chances of your AC breaking down in high heat starts with choosing a properly sized AC for your home. An air conditioner that's not powerful enough can work harder than necessary to cool your home even on a slightly warm afternoon. Units that are too big waste energy and may cause uneven cooling or high humidity.

During air conditioning installation at Northern Comfort Inc, our experienced HVAC technicians thoroughly assess your home and your personal cooling needs to find the ideal AC for your home. Factors like your home's overall dimensions, floor plan and insulation levels are all taken into account to make sure your air conditioner has the capacity to maintain comfort.

How AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During High Heat

One of the smartest ways to boost air conditioner effectiveness during periods of extreme heat is with routine air conditioning maintenance. During our routine tune-ups, qualified professionals inspect your system—checking things like critical parts, connections and coolant amounts. They also boost efficiency by cleaning out buildup and debris and replacing dirty air filters, reducing strain by allowing air to move freely through the system. The technicians at Northern Comfort Inc also look for any signs of wear or brewing problems to fix, 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 checking and replacing dirty air filters and clearing debris from the outside unit go a long way in maintaining optimal performance.

Common Misconceptions About Cooling Your Home in High Heat

Several misconceptions exist about keeping your home cool in hot weather. Here are three clarifications to the most frequent misunderstandings we hear about how to keep homes cool in a heatwave:

  1. Lowering the temperature way down does not make your home colder faster. Your AC runs at the same speed no matter what temperature you set.
  2. Shutting your AC off completely when you're not home does not reduce your utility bills. Instead, it lets indoor temps rise and leave your system with a bigger job when you come home and turn the air back on. It's better to adjust the setting slightly when you leave—but still keep the system on.
  3. Installing an oversized AC for your home isn’t the smartest solution. While high-capacity models have more power, they can cool a small space too quickly, causing temperature swings, moisture buildup and other performance issues. A properly-sized AC delivers consistent comfort.

Strategies to Help Your AC Handle Extreme Temperatures

There are many things homeowners can do to avoid an AC overload during heatwaves—while also enjoying a cool and comfortable home:

  •  Set your thermostat a few degrees higher and run fans to circulate air and make the room more comfortable
  •  Do simple AC upkeep in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like inspecting and replacing air filters, and cleaning outdoor unit coils
  •  Shut blinds and curtains to block out sunlight
  •  Seal windows and doors to stop cool air from leaking out or hot air entering the home
  •  Don't run heat-generating appliances such as ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers when it's hot outside

Reduce Air Conditioning Problems During Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Northern Comfort Inc

Be sure your air conditioner is all set for the hot weather in Mankato, MN, with AC maintenance from Northern Comfort Inc. Our crews will meticulously inspect and clean your unit, making sure it’s running at its best. Schedule your appointment by contacting us at 507-387-6596 today!