WHY A/C UNITS CANNOT KEEP UP WITH 100-DEGREE TEMPERATURES

Staying cool during the summer is not easy when the temperatures stay consistently above 100 degrees. Over the past few weeks, Christmas Air Conditioning has received dozens of calls from homeowners frustrated that their air conditioner won’t cool below 75 degrees! But it is also over 100 degrees outside!

The limited capacity of your A/C to deliver colder temperatures in your home may be frustrating, but regardless of the brand or type, it was designed to condition the air (not refrigerate the air).  Setting your thermostat too low could actually cause undo wear on your system.

You may think something’s wrong when the interior house temperature registers 77 degrees even though you’ve set the thermostat to 71, but you need to consider the outdoor temperatures to know if something is really wrong with your system. Your A/C unit is designed to cool a maximum of 20 degrees from the outside temperature. So, if it’s 100 degrees outside, and your A/C is getting to below 80 degrees inside, it is doing its job!

THE BEST TEMPERATURE SETTINGS FOR SUMMER

To stay comfortable and save money this summer, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78F when you are home. Setting your air conditioner to this level will allow you to stay cool, avoid unusually high electricity bills, and protect the life of your A/C unit.

If you still find yourself looking for relief, you can invest in a dehumidifier and follow our “cool” 🙂 tips below.

TIPS TO COOL YOUR HOME THIS SUMMER

Below is a great list of things you can do to stay cooler and help your A/C unit keep performing at its best.

  • Install ceiling fans. It’s no secret that moving air makes you feel cooler. By installing ceiling fans, you can create air movement that will help you cool down while avoiding the cost of dropping the thermostat temperature any further. In the summer, use the ceiling fan in the counterclockwise direction. While standing directly under the ceiling fan, you should feel a cool breeze. The airflow produced creates a wind-chill effect, making you “feel” cooler.
  • Close your blinds. If you have windows that receive direct sunlight at any part of the day, you’ll benefit from keeping the blinds closed or curtains drawn for at least the sunniest part of the day. Try turning your blinds upwards to prevent rays (and heat) from sneaking through.
  • Run your appliances at night. Wait until late evening or early morning when it’s cooler outside to run your washer, dryer, and dishwasher. Wash your clothes on cool cycles, and dry them at low-to-medium temperatures. Running appliances at night or during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower makes good sense and is easy to do.
  • Take a break from using the oven. On the hottest days, prepare a meal that doesn’t require cooking (or at least the use of the oven).
  • Change your air filter monthly. We cannot emphasize the importance of consistently replacing your air filter to keep your A/C unit running at its best performance. A dirty filter restricts the airflow and in turn makes your equipment work twice as hard. Check out MERV AC filters to learn more!
  • Cut back any shrubs or debris around your outdoor unit. You may want to hide your outside unit behind plants, but the outdoor unit needs proper airflow to work most efficiently. If the outdoor unit is crowded by a fence or shrubs, or if the bottom few inches of the coil is buried under mulch restricting the air flow, it will not work properly. This could also reduce the lifespan of the unit and possibly cause damage.
  • Open all vents in your home. Your home’s HVAC works best when the air can flow freely. When you shut off the vents, you can increase the pressure in your ductwork which can back up into your HVAC and cause issues. The issues your HVAC experiences due to closed vents are like problems caused by dirty air filters, including inadequate airflow, turning off and on frequently, and premature HVAC breakdown. Closing vents will also increase your monthly utility bill as your HVAC struggles to keep up. If you want your HVAC at its most efficient capacity, it’s best to leave all vents open and allow the proper flow of treated air.
  • Install an attic ventilator. Attics can reach extremely hot temperatures during the summer, sometimes heating up to 150 degrees. Investing in an attic ventilator or attic fan can help your A/C keep temperatures down. These fans work by evacuating the hot air from your attic and drawing in cool air from outside. As a result, your attic and house will be relatively cooler in the summer.
  • Maintain your air conditioner. Get on a routine maintenance schedule with us to be sure your unit is ready when the heat wave strikes. Like any mechanical system, your A/C needs to be maintained. The majority of emergency service calls that we make in the summer can be prevented with a simple maintenance in the spring. Preventive maintenance will help you avoid costly fixes while also enhancing the effectiveness of your A/C unit during the extreme heat of summer.

LOOK TO CHRISTMAS AIR CONDITIONING TO KEEP YOUR HOME COOL

Look to the HVAC experts at Christmas Air Conditioning to ensure your energy system is in excellent condition and operating at optimal efficiency to help you stay cool and comfortable this summer. Our experienced team of highly trained technicians will work with you and exceed your expectations during HVAC repairs and A/C unit replacements.

Our service technicians at Christmas Air Conditioning will work closely with you to decide which HVAC system is the best and tailor-fit it to meet your needs and preferences! We are committed to delivering premium quality HVAC service, maintenance, and products in Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lantana, Argyle, Copper Canyon, Double Oak, Lewisville, Northlake, and beyond.

Learn more by contacting Christmas Air Conditioning. You can call our office at (469) 919-9928,  text us at (214) 724-7746, or SCHEDULE ONLINE. We look forward to helping you stay cool this summer!