The AC unit in your home is a welcome escape on a blazing afternoon. When the temperatures rise in Texas, TX, nothing feels as satisfying as a refreshingly cool home. Unfortunately, running your AC in very high temperatures can have negative effects on your HVAC system. From energy inefficiency that runs up your power bills to physical strain that causes failures, operating your AC in hot weather can cause damage to your system—and your budget.

The problem is, hot weather is when many homeowners depend on their air conditioner to keep their home cool. Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to help your AC unit make it through the heat. This blog will cover how hot weather affects your air conditioner and summer cooling tips to maintain comfort while safeguarding your cooling system.

Why Your AC Might Struggle to Keep Up

When it's scorching outside, there's a major difference between the high outdoor temps and the cool indoor temperature you desire. Closing that difference between the two temperatures requires a lot of work from your cooling system, requiring it to run constantly to try to cool down your home.

How Extreme Heat Affects Air Conditioning Performance

When your AC unit has to run more often, or even constantly it loses efficiency—which in turn increases your utility bills. Operating your cooling system in on hot days can overload your cooling system, especially the compressor, possibly causing damage or for it to stop working. The load caused by hot weather 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

Reducing the risk of your AC shutting down in extreme temps starts with picking the correct size AC system for your home. An air conditioner that's not powerful enough can have trouble ensuring your comfort even on a moderate summer day. Units that are larger than necessary aren’t energy-efficient and may struggle to dehumidify.

During air conditioning installation at Rescue Heating & Air, our experienced HVAC technicians thoroughly assess your home and your comfort preferences to recommend the right unit for your home. Factors like your home's square footage, number of windows and insulation levels are all taken into account to make sure your air conditioner has enough power to cool your home efficiently.

Ways that AC Maintenance Helps Protect Your AC During Extreme Heat

One of the easiest ways to increase your AC efficiency during hot summer spells is to invest in professional air conditioning maintenance. During our seasonal AC maintenance visits, trained HVAC technicians thoroughly check your AC—checking things like critical parts, electrical wiring and fluid pressure. They also enhance system performance by cleaning your unit and swapping out clogged filters, reducing strain by improving airflow through the system. The technicians at Rescue Heating & Air also check for visible damage or brewing problems to fix, which can help avoid mid-season failures during extreme heat.

Homeowners can help by doing basic AC system chores in the summer heat. Activities such as checking and replacing dirty air filters and cleaning the outdoor coils go a long way in enabling the unit to operate efficiently.

Common Misunderstandings About Cooling Your Home in High Heat

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

  1. Drastically lowering the temperature setting does not cool your home faster. Your AC runs at the same speed no matter how low you set the temperature.
  2. Turning off your air conditioner when you're not home does not reduce your utility bills. Instead, it gives heat a chance to build and leave your system with extra work when you get back home and turn it on. It's better to dial the temp back a few degrees when you leave—but still keep the system on.
  3. Installing an oversized AC for your home isn’t the best choice. While high-capacity models have more power, they can finish cooling quickly and shut off too soon, causing temperature swings, high humidity and other problems. A unit that's appropriately sized performs more efficiently.

Strategies to Help Your HVAC System Handle Extreme Heat

Homeowners can take several steps to reduce the risk of an AC overload during heatwaves—while also keeping cool:

  •  Adjust your thermostat a few degrees higher and turn on fans to circulate air and make the room feel cooler
  •  Do simple AC chores in between professional HVAC maintenance visits like inspecting and replacing air filters, and hosing off outdoor unit coils
  •  Close blinds and curtains to block out sunlight
  •  Seal windows and doors to prevent cool air from leaking out or hot air getting inside
  •  Don't run high-heat appliances like ovens, stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers when it's hot outside

Reduce AC Breakdowns in Hot Weather with AC Maintenance from Rescue Heating & Air

Ensure your air conditioner is all set for the hot weather in Texas, TX, with AC maintenance from Rescue Heating & Air. Our crews will thoroughly inspect and clean your unit, making sure it’s running at its best. Book your appointment by reaching out to our team at 361-603-4784 today!