7 Tips to get your HVAC through a Heat Wave

02 Sep 7 Tips to get your HVAC through a Heat Wave

Kingsport, TN

The summer of East Tennessee was one of the hottest on record. High temperatures and high humidity easily lead to triple-digit heat indexes. Extreme summer heat can put a strain on your HVAC. That is why your Kingsport air conditioning professionals compiled this list of tips to help your HVAC during a heat wave.

7 Tips for your HVAC during a heat wave

Tip 1: Make sure your unit has a clean air filter

Changing your filter regularly is a cornerstone of proper HVAC maintenance and care. Keeping a dirty filter in your unit blocks airflow and can cause overheating and part failures. When your unit runs more frequently, such as during a heat wave or an extreme cold snap, you need to change the filter more often.

Tip 2: Keep the outdoor unit maintained

Your outdoor unit – technically known as a condenser – releases heat that is absorbed from the air inside your home. To work properly, the condenser needs to have a minimum of 1 foot of horizontal clearance on all sides. Clear away any weeds, shrubs and bushes that might be crowding the unit.

Tip 3: Use your fans

No matter what the temperature is, sitting in front of a fan can feel up to 10 degrees cooler. Using fans in whatever room you are occupying lowers the use of, and your reliance on, your air conditioner. Fans are also more energy efficient than any central cooling system.

Tip 4: Keep your windows shut tight

If your windows are not shut tightly, this lets in heat from outside and forces tour HVAC to work harder. Seal your windows with caulk or weatherstripping to keep outdoor air outside where it belongs.

Tip 5: Close window coverings

Curtains, drapes and window treatments can help keep it cooler. Data from the Department of Energy has found that more than three-quarters of the sunlight that comes through double-pane windows adds heat inside your home.

Tip 6: Limit your use of appliances that use heat

Your stove, oven, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer have two things in common. They all are household appliances, and they all add heat to your home. Use these appliances early in the morning or after the sun sets to limit the effects of the extra heat they generate.

Tip 7: Make no-cook meals

Try to prepare meals that do not require using your oven or stovetop. Some good options include cold-cut sandwiches, salads or yogurt parfaits. You also might want to invest in a toaster oven, which can prepare many meals and foods that you make in a standard oven but without generating nearly as much heat.

HVAC repair and maintenance services in Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol in Tennessee

No matter what the temperature is outside, regular maintenance of an HVAC is key to proper function. Thompson Electrical Service offers repair and maintenance for residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas in East Tennessee. We also offer 24-hour emergency service as needed. To find out more about our plans of repair and maintenance for your HVAC, call (423) 343-5726 to speak with a member of our team.