With temperatures expected to reach the mid-90’s next week, your home’s cooling system becomes critical to your comfort—and safety. Because cooling systems are only designed to keep your home up to 15-20 degrees cooler than the outdoor temperature, once the outdoor temperature soars above the 90º level, you can expect to feel a few degrees of inconsistency with the indoor cooling temperature. In addition to this, you can also expect the system to run a lot more than normal — near continuous in some instances.
What Does This Mean for Your AC?
Don’t fret it when it feels like your air conditioner isn’t quite reaching the temperature you set it to; this is completely normal for these hot, hot days. As long as you can feel cool air coming from your vents, your air conditioner is doing it’s job to cool your home as best as it can.
At Pro-Tech HVAC Home, we want to make sure your air conditioner is ready for the challenge. Here are our top 10 tips to help you prepare your HVAC system and home for the upcoming extreme heat.
✅ 1. Change Your Air Filter
A clogged or dirty air filter restricts airflow, making your AC work harder and less efficiently. We recommend checking your filter monthly and replacing it as needed—especially during high-use summer months.
RELATED: Why It’s So Important to Change Your Air Filter Regularly
✅ 2. Check and Program Your Thermostat
Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature—typically 75–78°F when you’re home. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, create a cooling schedule that eases the load on your AC during the hottest parts of the day or when no one is home.
RELATED: What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat in the Summer?
✅ 3. Clear the Area Around Your Outdoor Unit
Your outdoor condenser needs space to breathe. Remove leaves, grass clippings, and other debris from around the unit to maintain proper airflow and prevent overheating.
✅ 4. Give Your Outdoor Unit Some Shade!
If your air conditioner’s outdoor unit is located in a shady spot, it won’t have to work as hard to cool air as it would in direct sunlight. In a pinch, you can put up an outdoor umbrella to cast some shade on the unit. You can also consider installing a fixed or retractable awning or some landscaping to provide shade. Just make sure the unit has at least one foot of horizontal clearance and five feet of vertical clearance.
✅ 5. Use Ceiling Fans Wisely
Ceiling fans don’t lower the temperature, but they make you feel cooler by circulating air. Set fans to rotate counterclockwise in the summer and raise your thermostat a few degrees without losing comfort.
✅ 6. Close Curtains, Blinds and Doors During the Day
Over 75% of the sunlight that comes through a standard, double-pane window becomes heat inside your home (according to the U.S. Department of Energy). You can prevent this easily by simply keeping your curtains and blinds closed throughout the day. And make sure all doors are closed to really keep the heat from radiating into your home.
✅ 7. Avoid Using Heat-Producing Appliances Midday
Running the oven, dryer, or dishwasher during the hottest part of the day adds a lot of heat to your home. Try using these appliances in the early morning or late evening instead. This is the perfect excuse to visit your favorite local restaurant or order some take-out!
✅ 8. Schedule a Professional HVAC Tune-Up
Hopefully you’ve had your Spring Preventative Maintenance by now. Routine maintenance can help identify and fix issues early, ensure proper refrigerant levels, and make sure your system is running at peak efficiency when you need it most.
✅ 9. Don’t Ignore Warning Signs
If your AC is making unusual noises, cycling on and off frequently, or not cooling evenly, don’t wait. These are signs that something may be wrong. Addressing small problems early can prevent a complete breakdown during a heat wave.
✅ 10. Know When to Call for Help
If your air conditioner stops cooling during extreme heat, shut it off to avoid further damage—especially to the compressor—and call our team at Pro-Tech HVAC Home right away.
Stay Cool and Prepared!
With these tips, your home and HVAC system will be better prepared to handle the next heat wave. If you’re due for a tune-up or suspect an issue with your cooling system, don’t wait. Contact Pro-Tech HVAC Home today!
Pro-Tech HVAC Home is Your Top Rated Local HVAC Company!
When it comes to HVAC services, you need to work with a company with a stellar reputation for providing service that is guaranteed to solve your problems once and for all. As Annapolis’ Top Rated Local HVAC contractor, that’s what you get with Pro-Tech HVAC Home. Our customers rely on us for fast, friendly service at a fair price. Our #1 priority is keeping our Annapolis neighbors comfortable all year long!
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Pro-Tech HVAC Home offers new installation, replacement, repairs and maintenance of heating and air conditioning systems in the Annapolis area. Our customers rely on us for honest and reliable service for air conditioners, heat pumps, gas furnaces, Mitsubishi systems, and more. We’re happy to answer questions, troubleshoot, and help you choose the best HVAC system for you and your family. We’re always happy to help answer your questions, so please give us a call or send us an email.