How To Avoid Overheating Your AC Unit
Your AC unit is your lifeline during these hot summer days. There’s nothing better than coming home after a long day of work and putting the AC on full blast. However, there are drawbacks to this luxury. If you use your AC too much, it could potentially overheat and cause damage. Now it’s not guaranteed that overusing it one time will lead to disaster. Nevertheless, you really don’t want to risk it when the AC is so valuable to your home. Let’s take a look at how to avoid overheating your AC unit.
Use in Moderation
First of all, you’ll want to use your AC in moderation. As nice as a cool breeze from the unit feels, overusing it can easily lead to overheating. If the temperature isn’t too hot, don’t turn the AC on. Think about other ways to cool your home, such as opening windows or turning on a fan. If you’re not going to be home during the day, don’t leave the unit running to cool an empty house.
This principle is much like turning off lights when you’re not around; there’s no reason to use energy on nobody. On a smaller scale, when you leave the living room with the AC, turn it off. You’ll prevent the unit from overheating and give it time to rest and recover. Air conditioning isn’t a magical force that can run indefinitely. It needs time to recuperate, and while you can force it to run all day, you’ll soon run into overheating.
Use Low Settings
If the temperature is creeping up there, you can’t be blamed for using the AC. However, you might think twice about setting it on high and leaving it for hours at a time. Start with a lower setting that doesn’t use as much energy. As the day progresses and your home gets warmer, turn up the AC accordingly. Once again, if you have to use the appliance, by all means, do so. Just use the high setting as the last resort for those scorching days that leave you with no other choice.
In addition, play around with your AC to see what other settings lead to maximum coolness. Set the angle of the blades. Set the gust strength. There are ways to cool your home without turning the temperature down to freezing. In essence, you want to work smarter instead of harder.
Give It Space
Give your AC space to cool off. This means that the unit shouldn’t be positioned adjacent to two walls where it can’t let off steam. While the AC might be blowing cool air, the device can get extremely hot as the system is working. If it is cornered on many sides, there isn’t an opportunity for the AC to release hot air. The appliance will inevitably overheat as it gets warmer and warmer. All you need to do is position the AC with space on either side of it. There’s a good chance that this is already the case, and you can move on to the next tip.
However, if your AC is currently located in a corner of the room, you’ll want to unhinge it and move it to a flat wall. The same principle applies to a unit located outdoors. If you have a ton of space in your backyard, there’s no need for the AC to be pushed right up against the wall. Give it a foot of breathing room at the very least, and you’ll find that the unit naturally will avoid overheating.
Clean the Blades
The blades of your AC are responsible for blowing cool air in your direction. If the blades become covered with dust and other debris, the whole device will be prone to overheating. The air won’t leave the system properly, and this recirculation can lead to a never-ending cycle of becoming warmer and warmer. The engine will need to exert more power to force the air outwards, and overheating is just a step away. Clean the blades with a rag or towel. This is an incredibly easy step that goes a long way in preventing overheating.
You can go above and beyond and take apart the interior of the unit. By cleaning everything in sight, you’re allowing air to flow without a hitch in the world. Once again, there’s less buildup of friction and a smoother passageway for the air to follow. Less stress on the AC means less energy consumed and an aversion to overheating. Moreover, you’ll be spending less on electricity at the end of the month, and your wallet will thank you dearly for that one.
Change the Air Filter
The air filter is at the heart of your AC. After all, it is responsible for filtering the air and ensuring that you’re not breathing in dust and other nasty particles. Much like the blades, it can accumulate debris after an extended period of use. An air filter that is saturated with dust also needs to work overtime to achieve its normal functionality. When the system is forced to consume so much energy, overheating is bound to happen sooner or later. Reach inside the unit and swap out the air filter for a new one. Not only does this prevent overheating, but it’s good for the sheer sake of your health as well. Every few years, your air filter is due for a regular change anyway.
Provide Shade
If the unit is located outdoors, it shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight. As you might imagine, an AC that has to endure the sun’s rays will overheat very rapidly. You don’t want to sit in the sun all day, and your AC doesn’t deserve this treatment either. Provide some shade for the unit with an umbrella or tarp. Alternatively, move the entire unit underneath some shelter to guarantee that no sunlight will get through. Think about the position of the sun from sunrise to sunset. Objects cast shade at different angles, so a solution that works in the morning might not necessarily be effective in the afternoon.
Prevent Overheating
The bottom line is, AC units can quickly heat up and become ineffective. Follow these tips to avoid overheating your AC and prolong its lifespan. Note that some of these steps can be a little tricky. For example, when you’re asked to take apart the unit and look for a specific part, this might not be obvious to the untrained eye. You’re much better off with contacting a professional service in Hudson, FL, that will take care of business.
Mario's AC in Hudson is your one-stop-shop for all your air conditioning and heating needs. We’ve seen it all when it comes to overheating AC units that can be a big disappointment to a homeowner. Mario's AC also offers biannual maintenance, leak detection and new system installations. Please call our number right away if you have any questions regarding AC overheating. Our professional staff would love to find a solution for your home.
