Here in Bridgeville, we do experience the occasional heat wave. Due to the temperate climate of the region, homes in our area usually have slightly smaller AC systems than comparable homes in more tropical areas. Because of this, your AC can struggle to keep a house cool or work all that efficiently during a heat wave. Luckily, there are some easy ways that you can help ensure your AC works efficiently and effectively no matter how hot it gets.
Make Sure Your AC System Is Properly Maintained
One of the biggest factors that determines how efficient an AC system is and how much energy it uses is whether or not you keep it properly maintained. Any AC system should be inspected and serviced by a professional every spring. This gives a professional the time to address issues like dirt and dust coating the coils. You can be fairly certain that your system will be more reliable and have a longer lifespan if you schedule annual AC tune-ups.
Maintaining an AC system involves a number of technical tasks that require a trained professional. For instance, to properly clean the condenser coil in the outdoor unit, it’s usually necessary to first unhook and remove the entire fan assembly. You could easily damage the wiring on the fan if everything isn’t done properly. Even worse, the fan motor could take damage if it’s not hooked back up correctly. Refrigerants also require certifications to handle, since they’re hazardous.
Replace the AC Air Filter
Running your AC system with a dirty, clogged filter always leads to a decrease in both its performance and its energy efficiency. The dirtier an air filter is, the more restrictive it is in terms of the amount of air the blower (fan) can draw in. That means the system removes air from the house more slowly and also puts out much less cool air. This, in turn, results in each cooling cycle taking longer and the system using more electricity.
Experts recommend that you replace the air filter in a central AC system every two to three months. During periods where it’s unusually hot and your AC has to run more than normal, you may need to replace the filter more frequently.
Keep Your Blinds and Curtains Closed
The amount of heat a house receives from sunlight streaming in through windows and skylights can greatly increase the workload on its AC system. In fact, windows tend to be the biggest contributors to heat gain in most houses. If you keep your blinds and curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day, it will help your house stay quite a bit cooler.
This is especially true if you focus on the south side of the home or make sure your windows with blinds follow the sun throughout the day. Installing shades on your skylights so that you can cover them can make an even bigger difference, as skylights usually let in much more heat than normal windows. If you prefer to keep your windows uncovered so that you can see out, another effective option is to apply UV-resistant film to the glass. This film allows the windows to reflect the majority of sunlight and lessen the heat gain you get through them.
Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors
Leaky windows and exterior doors are also a concern, as they allow hot air from outside to continually flow into the house. That’s why you want to check your windows and doors for air leaks and seal them up if needed. Look at the material of your window frames. Wood frames are the most likely to leak. Aluminum frames will conduct heat. Vinyl frames will gap over time.
One thing to do is just inspect the caulking around the inside and outside of the frames to make sure there are no places where it’s cracked or missing. If you need to reseal any frames, you should be able to easily scrape the old caulk away and then re-caulk around the frame to ensure it no longer leaks. The other thing to check is that the weather-stripping on all windows and doors is still intact and creates an airtight seal between the window or door and the frame.
Make Sure Your Attic Is Ventilated and Well Insulated
Attics can be another major contributor to heat gain and rising indoor temperatures during the afternoon and evening. The roof of a house absorbs a huge amount of heat during the summer, and all of this heat can cause the attic to become extremely hot.
In fact, if the attic isn’t sufficiently ventilated, it will often end up being more than 40 degrees hotter than the temperature outside. If the attic floor isn’t sufficiently insulated, all of the heat then ends up seeping down into the house and causing it to heat up much more.
You’ll usually need a professional to check if your attic has sufficient insulation. However, you can easily check whether your attic has enough ventilation just by going up into it in the afternoon and seeing how hot it feels. If your roof and attic are properly ventilated, the temperature shouldn’t be that much hotter than what it is outside.
Insulation in the rest of your home can also make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your AC. This includes quality of insulation in the walls and around your ducts. Check for leaks in your ducts and around your windows. Even insulation in your floor will make a difference, especially if you have a crawl space and not a basement.
Avoid Using Heat-Generating Appliances During the Day
Dishwashers, washing machines and especially dryers give off quite a bit of heat and contribute to the house being warmer. As such, it’s best to try to do dishes and laundry in the morning or later in the evening as much as possible so that you can lessen the workload on your AC system.
Having your oven or stove on is an even easier way to quickly heat up your house. Hot days are a great time to grill, both because it’s fun and because it allows you to serve hot food without warming your home at the same time.
For the past 35 years, Coleman Mitchell Heating & Air Conditioning has been the go-to source for heating and cooling services in Bridgeville and the surrounding areas. We’re a local, family-run company that’s ready to do whatever it takes to keep your house comfortable all year long. We specialize in HVAC maintenance and can help ensure your AC runs smoothly and works efficiently this summer. Our technicians can service any make and model of central or ductless AC system, and we can also help if you need any repairs or a system replacement.
To schedule an appointment to get your AC serviced and make sure it’s ready for the summer heat, contact us today.
