How Hot Weather in Georgia Affects Your A/C Unit...
The heat of a Georgia summer can cause more than physical issues for your body. It can also cause problems with your air conditioning unit, which is the last thing you want when it’s regularly over 90 degrees outside. To ensure your AC unit keeps working hard all summer long, take a look at these tips.
How Hot is Too Hot?
Most air conditioning systems are designed to work at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or less. When the temp rises above 100 degrees, your AC unit will start to consume even more energy trying to keep your house cool, and may actually malfunction or break down altogether.
Even at 95 degrees, the AC unit is functioning at max capacity. At this temperature, it can only keep your home as cool as 78 to 80 degrees. Lowering your thermostat will not be able to lower your indoor temperature. In fact, it will actually cause the AC unit to work overtime, therefore leading to break downs.
Keep in mind that your home isn’t the only one experiencing the extreme heat. When everyone in your neighborhood is turning their thermostats down, this is pulling even more energy from the electric grid. If the grid is overloaded, you may have power outages that leave you with no AC at all.
To avoid overloading your AC, causing blackouts, and high utility bills, it’s best to keep your air conditioning between 74 and 78 degrees. When that’s still too much for you, find other ways to cool off such as iced drinks, fans, or a dip in the pool.
Signs You Need to Repair or Replace Your AC
Nobody wants to find their air conditioning unit isn’t working at its best during the hottest time of the year. In late spring or early summer, schedule a routine maintenance appointment with your local HVAC company. Throughout the summer, keep an eye on your unit to make sure it’s still working well. Here are a few things to watch out for:
· Air filters clog faster when the AC is running consistently. Change these out every month to keep things moving.
· The exterior fan also gathers debris faster. When the unit is turned off, use a long-handled brush to clean the fan.
· Especially with older units, you can hear when the AC turns on and off. If you notice that it is turning on more frequently, or if it never turns off, this is a sign that it’s working too hard. Depending on the age, recent temperatures, and maintenance routine of your system, it may be wise to think about upgrading to a newer, more efficient model.
Contact Us for HVAC Maintenance
If you suspect that your AC is struggling to keep up with the late summer heat, please give AComfort a call at 678-435-9801. We can make an appointment to visit your home and diagnose the system. Whether you need a simple fix, or an entire replacement, we can help you keep your home at the right temperature all year long.
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