Don’t Panic: What Your Air Conditioner Can (and Can’t) Do in Extreme Heat

If you live in North Carolina, you recently endured an extreme heat wave, reaching 100-degree temperatures for the first time in 14 years and the summer is far from over. You may have noticed during those sweltering days that your interior temperature just wasn’t quite cooling to your thermostat setting. You may have even given us a call or asked yourself, “what’s going on?”

Air Conditioning Limits During Extreme Heat.

While we like to think that our air conditioning units are superheroes, and in the summer months they often are, sometimes there’s only so much they can do before reaching their limits. You may have heard of the “20-degree rule” when it comes to setting your thermostat. Generally speaking, this is an HVAC guideline meaning that you should not set your thermostat more than 20 degrees lower than the outdoor temperature for various reasons:

1. Overworking Your HVAC Unit. If the outdoor temperature is 100 degrees and your thermostat is set to 68, your unit is going to constantly run to unsuccessfully attempt to reach this temperature, causing wear on your unit and a higher electric bill for you!
2. Constantly Changing Your Temperature. Once you have your internal temperature set (ideally no more than 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature), you should set it and forget it. Constantly lowering the temperature or changing it creates inefficient cycling on your HVAC system and overuse of your unit.

What You Can Do During Heat Waves.

If you’re sure that your unit is running efficiently and you have your thermostat properly set, there are other ways to keep your home cool during extreme heat.

1. Keep Garage Doors Closed. Limiting outside air from entering the main entrances from your home can greatly reduce temperature.
2. Close Curtains & Blinds. According to this recent article by Southern Living, up to 30% of your home’s heat comes from radiant heat through windows. Heavy curtains or shades can prevent the sun’s direct rays from coming into your home and making it warmer in the summer months.
3. Turn on Fans. A ceiling fan doesn’t make the air in your home cooler, but cv b it makes YOU feel cooler as the air blows down on you.
4. Keep the Air Flowing Freely. Having clean air ducts and filters allows the air to move freely as it’s blown out and prevents any blockages that can cause your unit to work overtime.
5. Keep Yourself Cool. Wear lightweight clothing, drink lots of liquids, and stay inside to keep your body temperature cooler.

In Alamance County, heat waves and hot summer temperatures are routine from June through September. At Thornton’s Heating & Air, we can’t change the forecast, but we can keep your home cool. Call us today for a tune up, to ensure your unit is running at peak efficiency, for any repairs or for a free estimate on a new unit! After all, we’ve been serving our community for over 50 years, and we know how to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter!