The summer months are HOT! Said everyone who lives in the South! You know the heat and humidity are factors, but do you always know the best ways to prepare and how these weather elements affect your air conditioning unit? Larry is coming in hot with nearly 30 years in the HVAC business and has some tangible insight that will help you keep your cool!
Fact #1: Your A/C unit has an HVAC coil that works to reduce humidity levels by condensing water vapor into liquid and then draining the excess. Humidity, however, cancels out the air conditioner’s cooling effect.
Fact #2: When the temperature outside is hotter, your A/C unit compressor does more of the work to create cool air. On a moderate temperature day, the heat exchanger will transfer heat from inside the home to outside; but the hotter it gets the harder the A/C has to work to achieve your desired indoor temperature.
Fact #3: Hotter temperatures maximize the unit’s capabilities, requiring more energy to perform. More energy means less efficiency. The (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) SEER is an indication of the level of efficiency expected on a unit. The higher the SEER, the better the efficiency of your A/C unit in hot temperatures.
Fact #4: With hot temperatures comes severe weather. Severe weather elements of lightening, high winds, tornados and such can cause significant damage to our outdoor unit. The electrical systems inside your unit are like any other electronics, if struck by lightening the panels will be affected. Of course, acts of nature are not possible to prevent, but preparation including turning off your unit and even covering it with a tarp, might help.
Fact #5: The location of your unit affects the air flow and if it is located where heat gets captured easily, then hotter outdoor temperatures will be trapped and drawn back into the inlet of the unit causing your A/C unit to operate at much higher temps. This will result in poor airflow, which then can elevate the temperatures of the lubricating oils inside the compressor. Check your airflow with a simple thermometer. Run your unit and check the air temperature an inch or two away from the inlet. You are checking to see that it is the same temperature as the air 20 feet away, and if it is not, you may have a recirculating issue.
Your Hot2Cold representative recommends regular proper maintenance to optimize the efficiency of your unit. Contact Larry Sims 318-224-7003 for more information