Summer is always hard on air conditioning units in North Texas. Not only do they work hard to keep our homes cool when the air outside is well past the 100-degree mark, they work even harder to compensate for factors like dirty air filters, blocked vents, and irregular maintenance. Over time, the AC unit can overwork itself, overheat, and break down. You definitely don’t want to be without air conditioning during a Texas summer, so here are some things you can do to avoid costly emergency AC repairs.

Helpful AC Tips

The key to preventing damage to your AC unit lies in keeping it from working too hard. There are many small changes you can make at home to make the most of your unit’s longevity.

Change the Thermostat

Simply turning up the thermostat a few degrees can reduce the demand on your unit. Try setting it for the high 70’s when you’re at home. You can go even higher when the house is empty, but remember to account for any pets you have. Installing a smart thermostat is an even better idea because it can adjust the temperature at the times you designate and keep your house from getting too hot or too cool. You can even use your smartphone to make adjustments to the smart thermostat.

Check Your Insulation

If your home is poorly insulated against outside temperatures, your AC unit will work too hard trying to cool things down. Help it out by making sure you have the proper insulation in your home and good weatherproof sealing on your doors and windows. It’s
also helpful to keep your blinds and curtains closed to reflect heat away from your home.

Clear Your Environment

Look at the area around your air conditioning unit outside. If tall grass or small tree branches are tangling around it, the airflow will suffer and the unit will have to work harder to send cool air into your home. Clear away any vegetation that’s creeping too close to the unit. Also make sure that you don’t have furniture or other items blocking the vents into your rooms. If the air can’t get through, the temperature in your house will stay high and your AC system will suffer.

Watch for Changes

Any change in your air conditioner’s performance could be an early sign of trouble. Listen for any unusual noises, monitor your energy bills to see if they are trending higher than usual, and just generally be observant so that any changes will be detected early on before they turn into big problems.

Change Air Filters

One routine maintenance measure you can take at home is replacing your air filters when they get dirty. Simply remove the vent cover and look at your air filter. If it’s getting a build-up of grime, it could be allowing dust and other pollutants into the air you breathe.

Schedule Regular Maintenance

Nothing beats a professional inspection and tune-up. Call a trusted business like H&H Heating and Air to make sure your AC unit is up to the task of cooling your home all summer long. We will create a maintenance schedule that works for you!

H&H Heating and Air: Your Dallas-Fort Worth HVAC Experts

If you find yourself in an AC emergency this summer, call H&H Heating and Air any time. Our talented team will come out and fix the problem so that you don’t have to suffer in the heat one minute longer than necessary. Even better, call us to schedule maintenance for your AC unit to prevent emergencies from happening. Let’s get started today!