How to Take It Easy on Your AC This Summer

We can expect another hot summer in Colorado, and that means air conditioning systems in homes will put in plenty of work. A central air conditioner is a wonderful appliance to have so you can make it through the summer’s hottest days—but you also want to ensure your AC continues to operate throughout the season and doesn’t break down because of excess strain.

The most important step to ease the stress on your cooling system is to schedule air conditioning maintenance in Colorado Springs, CO during the spring. Please contact our team and arrange for this as soon as possible, as it gives your air conditioner the best chance to sail through the summer with zero problems (and better energy efficiency).

When the summer starts, you can take several steps to help ease the pressure on your AC, help to avoid a sudden breakdown, and to help lower your bills.

Know the cooling limits of the AC and stay within them

Last year we wrote a detailed post about the cooling limits of air conditioning systems. The short version: an AC can lower the temperature of a home’s indoor air by a max of 20°F. Don’t push your AC to try to cool your house more than this, as it will put immense stress on it as it runs and runs trying to reach a temperature it can’t reach.

Don’t lower the thermostat lower than 68°F

We know it’s tempting to drop the temperature as low as possible on a sweltering hot day. But you risk your air conditioner freezing up if you set it below 68°F, especially if you live at higher altitudes. You won’t be comfortable at 68°F anyway, it’s too cold!

Aim for 78°F in the day, 86°F at night, or when the house is empty

These are our general guidelines for thermostat settings that will keep an AC from overheating. It’s easy to keep these settings locked in if you have a programmable thermostat. (And please, use that programmability. We know far too many homeowners who don’t make use of this great feature.) Here’s something to keep in mind: the closer the temperature inside the house is to the outside, the slower outdoor heat will move in, and the cooler the house will stay.

Change the air filters every 1 to 3 months

The air filter in the HVAC cabinet will clog up with dust and debris after 1 to 3 months of operation. (Flat panel filters will clog up faster than pleated filters.) If the filter isn’t changed for a clean one when this happens, it will restrict airflow into the air conditioner and make its job much harder. Clogged filters are a major cause of air conditioners overheating and failing, and they can also lead to frozen coils and other problems. Find a schedule for filter changes and stick to it.

Never delay calling for repairs

If your AC isn’t working the way it should, don’t hesitate to call our technicians. The sooner you have a small problem dealt with, the less likely you’ll end up with a completely failed AC later on.

Just contact the team at Peak Home Performance today to get started