Tips for Minimizing AC Strain During the Hot Summer Months

Summer is here, which means you can expect to run your AC virtually nonstop. It's necessary to beat the Oklahoma heat, but it also puts a lot of pressure on your system, which can wear it out more quickly, causing frequent breakdowns and shortening its life span. How can you keep that AC strain to a minimum while still keeping your home comfortable? Read on for a few tips.

• Keep the sun out. Close the curtains and blinds during the day to keep the hot sun out. Then, at night, consider opening a window or two to let cool air in that will linger into the next day, keeping the heat at bay.

• Avoid peak hours. Any hot activities you have to do, such as cooking, baking, and taking hot showers or baths should be saved for evening, once the sun is down. This will keep your home from getting too hot during the day and, thus, reduce AC strain.

• Replace filters. As dust and other contaminants build up in your air filter over time, they restrict airflow from your system. The less cold air you have, the longer it takes your home to reach your set temperature and the harder your AC has to work, which causes AC strain. Check the filter every month and replace it every three to six months.

• Perform ductwork maintenance. Ductwork leaks also reduce airflow. Look for holes, tears, and other damage to your ducts and repair them with metal tape or mastic sealant — or call your HVAC technician to do it. Also make sure that your ducts are properly insulated. If they're not, the cold air will gain heat as it travels from the system to your home, causing it to take longer to cool your home properly.

• Get a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats can be programmed in coordination with your schedule and automatically switch to a more energy-efficient setting when you're not home. Your AC's workload is reduced, and you don't pay to cool an empty house.

For more help reducing the AC strain in your home, contact us at Air Assurance. We keep Broken Arrow's HVAC systems running at peak performance and efficiency.

How to Prevent Your AC Freezing Up in Summer

An HVAC freezing up in summer is a unit that needs prompt attention. While air conditioners are supposed to produce cold air, ice formation is definitely not part of this process. No component in a properly functioning central AC should generate temperatures that drop below freezing. 

Most everything about an HVAC freezing up in summer is bad news:

• First, a frozen air conditioner will not produce cool comfort anymore. Often, the unit may shut down entirely. Because freeze-ups often happen when outdoor temperatures are excessively high, this can mean very uncomfortable living conditions until the problem is resolved.

• Ice forming inside indoor evaporator coil passages gradually obstructs system airflow. This, in turn, causes the system to run longer cycles. As airflow becomes increasingly obstructed, the system runs nearly nonstop. By that time, severe, permanent damage to the compressor — the most costly component in a typical central AC — may have occurred.

What Causes AC Freeze-Ups?

• Low system airflow. When airflow through the indoor evaporator coil drops below specifications, the temperature of refrigerant circulating through the coil may plunge below freezing. Condensation naturally forming on the coil then freezes, eventually obstructing the coil. The best insurance to support optimum HVAC airflow is replacing the system air filter every month all summer long. This is an effective, affordable measure to help avoid an HVAC freezing up in summer.

• Refrigerant leaks. When the AC refrigerant charge drops too low, coil icing is a common early symptom. Air conditioners don’t consume refrigerant, so if the amount circulating through the system is insufficient, that usually indicates a leak somewhere. A qualified HVAC technician has the equipment to track down and repair these small refrigerant leaks. Then, the system's refrigerant charge can be restored to proper specifications.

If your HVAC freezing up in summer threatens your indoor comfort, ask the cooling professionals at Air Assurance about qualified HVAC service to resolve the problem. 

How Does Your AC Adapt to Heat Waves?

Heat waves can push an air conditioner to the maximum. In the past few years, nearly all states in the U.S. have had at least one spell of unusually severe hot weather. During these times, an AC runs longer, and thus, cooling components incur more wear and tear. Heat waves are hard to predict far in advance. However, you can predict that your air conditioner will be subject to increased stress if one occurs. Here are some things to expect:

Air conditioners have limits.

A residential central air conditioner typically has a rated BTU capacity sufficient to cool a house down about 20 degrees below the outdoor temperature? If a heat wave sends temperatures above 100 degrees, you can’t expect your AC to reduce indoor temps below about 80 degrees. Pushing the thermostat setting lower won’t make the house any cooler than 20 degrees below the outside temperature. It will, however, make the unit run longer — even nonstop — cycles. This can inflict increased wear and tear on critical components like the compressor and possibly trigger a system shutdown.

Cooling takes more time.

An air conditioner removes the same amount of BTUs of heat from your home every hour whether it’s a summer heat wave or a milder day. Therefore, lowering thermostat settings excessively can’t speed up the process in a heat wave. As outdoor temperatures decline later, however, extremely low settings may cause the house to become overly cooled, wasting energy and boosting operating costs.

Leaving the AC on reduces wear.

Shutting off air conditioning while you're gone during a heat wave means the house becomes excessively overheated. Hours of almost nonstop AC operation are required to cool it back down, inflicting excess stress on system components like the compressor. A better strategy is to leave the air conditioner running all day, cycling on and off normally with the thermostat set at a moderate temperature somewhat higher than your normal comfort zone. This actually consumes less energy and reduces stress on AC components.

For more tips about efficient, effective air conditioner operation during heat waves, talk to the pros at Air Assurance.

Surviving the Dog Days of Summer

Keeping cool in the height of summer is important not only for your comfort but also your health. You can experience heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and other heat-related illnesses when temperatures reach unbearably high levels.Here are some tips to help you stay cool in the dog days of summer.

Get a portable fan

A fan increases air circulation and makes you feel cooler. For an even greater cooling effect, place a tray or bowl of ice in front of the blowing fan. Melting ice will cool the air around you.

Wear cotton clothing 

Light-colored, loose-fitting cotton clothing will make you feel cooler than many synthetic fabrics.

Alter your outdoor workout routine

Schedule your outdoor workouts for late evenings or early mornings to avoid direct sunlight. This will help you maintain healthy internal temperature levels while exercising. If it isn't possible to alter your workout times, consider scaling down your exercises by reducing your exertion levels or minutes of activity.

Stay hydrated

Drink cold glasses of water along with sports drinks that are low in sugar but high on electrolytes throughout the day. This will help lower your body temperature. Alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate you, so it's best to avoid them in the dog days of summer.

Avoid large meals

Metabolic heat is required for the digestion of food. Your body will warm up as it processes large meals. Eating small meals frequently can help you stay cooler.

Keep curtains and blinds closed

Blocking out sunlight during the day prevents your rooms from overheating.

Shower frequently

Take frequent showers or baths with cool water. It can be challenging to stay cool and comfortable in the dog days of summer. The above-mentioned tips will help make the heat less aggravating. For more tips on how to stay comfortable in the summer, please contact Air Assurance. Broken Arrow homeowners have counted on us for all their home comfort and efficiency needs since 1985.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.