AC Tips for Summer

7 AC Tips for Summer If You Live In or Near Mesa, Arizona

For most Mesa area homeowners, there’s no worse nightmare than your AC shutting down in the middle of a hot summer day.

With our summer temperatures climbing over 100 degrees, the last thing you want is to turn your home into a brick oven!

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to avoid this nightmare: make sure your AC is ready to take the heat.

A few simple AC tips for summer can keep your air conditioner running strong all season long.

Let’s take a look at the seven tips you’ll want to keep in mind to keep your house cool.

1. Change Your Air Filter Often

This is a tip you’ve likely heard before, but it bears repeating.

Many homeowners forget to change their air filters, which can seem like a tiny issue to be concerned about.

However, here in Arizona, our warm air carries a lot of dust that can clog your AC parts.

This means you’ll need to keep your air filter maintenance in mind.

Experts recommend that you change your air filter at least twice a year.

However, you may want to do so more often depending on the air quality in your area, the number of pets in your home, and any respiratory conditions your family might have.

We often recommend changing an air filter once every three months in our area.

Beyond cleaner air, a new air filter does something important for your air conditioner: it makes its work easier!

Your AC doesn’t need to work as hard to send air through a clean filter, and that efficiency means cool air without spending more money on energy.

2. Check for Proper Air Flow

When was the last time you did a quick check of your indoor and outdoor AC?

When you have a few minutes to spare, prep your summer AC by making sure air can flow with ease.

This means doing a basic cleaning of any dirt or debris lodged in the grates of your outdoor unit. It also means inspecting the vents and registers in your home for dust, dirt, and obstructions.

Cleaning your AC can be a big help for the system overall. Think of it like clearing out your HVAC’s airways: you’re making it easier for the system to “breathe” better.

Otherwise, a blocked airflow can have a negative impact on your unit’s lifespan, and it can even cause a dreaded summer breakdown!

3. Set the Right Temperature

We know, we know: when the scorching summer heat sets in, it’s tempting to program the thermostat a little lower.

However, letting your indoor temperature fluctuate can be hard on your system—and on your wallet.

But what should you keep your AC on?

The Department of Energy recommends setting the temperature at 78 degrees when you are home and need cooling.

At this temperature, you’ll stay comfortable without spending excess money by struggling for further cooling air.

4. Don’t Turn Your AC Off

It’s easy to understand why some homeowners turn off their AC. In theory, turning off your system when you’re not at home should save you money, right?

However, this is far from the case. Think of your AC like a train: it’s hard to get one up and running, but it’s easy to maintain one after it’s gotten started. In other words, it’s much easier on your AC to stay within a standard temperature range throughout the day—even when you’re away from home—than to stop and start again.

Even worse, your AC’s struggle to bring down your indoor temperature after your system has been off all day can cost you a fortune! Make sure to keep your AC running all summer long to save money and energy in the long run.

5. Find Ways to Reduce Your Home Heat

If your goal is to save money and energy, there’s another trick to try. During peak hours, from 11 am to 6 pm, your AC will be working its hardest to keep your home cool. To help it out, make sure to monitor your habits and reduce the amount of heat you create.

For example, many major appliances generate a great deal of heat. Running the laundry, baking in the oven, cooking on the stove, or even running a drying cycle on your dishwasher can warm up a room. When possible avoid these activities until later in the evening to keep your home cooler.

6. Keep the Heat Out

Unless you want to air-condition the entire neighborhood, you may want to spring for a home energy audit to see if your home has leaks that are letting out all of that valuable cooled air.

Alternatively, try doing an informal audit yourself by checking the insulation in your attic and the cracks around windows and doors to see if air is escaping. If you notice a draft, patch it up.

In addition, make sure you’re following common best practices for keeping the summer heat at bay.

Close the blinds during the warmest part of the day, use your ceiling fans to provide extra cooling power, and avoid opening your doors and windows too often.

7. Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up

While it certainly helps to do your own basic maintenance, it’s always best to have a professional take a look at your system as well.

This is a good idea to do on a regular basis, but it’s easier when you have a maintenance plan in place.

A qualified AC technician can check your AC for subtle issues that may go unnoticed, and they can fix those problems before they snowball into major headaches.

Getting an HVAC tune-up before you put great stress on your AC during the summer months can ensure that your system is in top operating condition when you need it most.

Make the Most of These AC Tips for Summer

There’s no time to waste! With summer closing in, now is the time to prepare your home with these AC tips for summer.

A few simple tips can help ensure your home stays cool and comfortable even under the sweltering sun.

If you’re ready to make sure your AC is up to the task of cooling your home this summer, Mark Daniels Air Conditioning & Heating is here to help.

Our expert technicians are licensed, bonded, and insured, and we’re happy to help inspect your AC or repair a faulty unit. For more information on what we can do for you, contact us today!

 

 

 

Are you looking for an air conditioning repair company in Gilbert, AZ, or in a nearby valley location? Contact your 5-star, emergency HVAC experts at Mark Daniels Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve been serving the Valley Since 1996. Call  (480) 571-7219 or request service online today!

 

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