Why AC Cooling Ability Is Affected by Outside Temperature

AC Cooling AbilityYour AC is designed to keep your home cool throughout the scorching Arizona summer. However, when the weather gets REALLY hot, it can actually affect your system’s cooling ability. Here’s why — and what you can do about it.

How Heat Affects Cooling Ability

Your AC works by moving warm air from your home to the outside in cooling mode. The hotter the air is outside, the harder your compressor has to work to cool your home.

Therefore, as outdoor temperatures go up, your system will take longer and work harder to bring your home down to your thermostat setting. This is especially true if your unit is older and hasn’t been properly maintained. Forcing it to work too hard could cause it to break down, leaving you stranded without AC at the worst time, in the middle of a heat wave.

Also, if you don’t keep clean air filters your system is forced to run longer to cool your home. If you don’t check filters regularly, airflow becomes restricted, putting even more strain on your AC thus, higher power bills.

Improving Cooling Ability in the Heat

There are a few things you can do to counteract the effects of extreme heat on your AC. First, get a system with a SEER rating of at least 14, if not higher. A higher-efficiency system won’t get overwhelmed as easily and can keep you cool without sending your energy bills skyrocketing.

Additionally, don’t neglect annual maintenance. Your new HVAC system will gradually lose efficiency if you don’t give it the care it needs. Once a year, at the beginning of the cooling season, call your HVAC technician to examine your AC, tighten any loose wires, fix or replace any failing parts, and make sure it’s running at peak efficiency. The better shape it’s in, the better it will be able to stand up to extreme conditions, and the more effective it will be at keeping your home cool.

Be sure and ask about our money-saving service agreement. We will call you to set an appointment when it is time to service your unit. One more way you can Count on Us to keep you cool and comfortable.

For more tips on maximizing your AC’s cooling ability, contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We help keep Yuma homes comfortable and efficient.