3 Tips to Prevent AC Breakdown During a Heat Wave

Three habits do the most to keep an air conditioner running through a heat wave: get it serviced before the hot weather arrives, keep air moving freely through the system, and ease the load on it when temperatures peak. None of them is complicated, and all of them are worth doing before the forecast turns to triple digits.

Summers in Pasco, Kennewick and Richland can stay hot for days at a time, and an air conditioner that barely keeps up on a normal July afternoon has little room left during a real heat wave.

Tip one: service the system before you need it

A tune-up in spring or early summer finds the small problems that turn into big ones under stress: a dirty coil, a tired capacitor, a loose electrical connection, a low airflow reading. Fixing those in mild weather costs you a short appointment. Finding them during a heat wave costs you a hot house while you wait for a slot.

Air-Tech's AT Advantage Program maintenance plans include two visits a year, so the cooling check is already on the calendar. If you are not on a plan, book the visit early, since the busiest weeks fill quickly.

Tip two: keep air moving

An air conditioner needs to breathe. Indoors, that means a clean filter, and for a 1 inch filter that often means a change every one to three months, more often in dusty or smoky stretches. A clogged filter starves the system of airflow and can lead to a frozen coil.

Outdoors, give the condenser room. Trim plants back and clear grass clippings, leaves and cottonwood fluff from the sides and top. Gently rinsing the outer fins with a garden hose can help, but do not use a pressure washer, and switch the unit off first. Keep supply vents and returns open inside as well, because closing many of them can raise pressure and strain the system.

Tip three: ease the load during the peak

You cannot change the weather, but you can reduce how hard the system has to work. Close blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows in the afternoon. Run ceiling fans, which help you feel cooler without cooling the room. Postpone heat-producing chores such as baking and laundry until evening.

Avoid setting the thermostat much lower than usual in the hope of cooling faster. The system runs at one speed regardless, so a very low setting just makes it run longer. A steady, reasonable setting is easier on the equipment.

Know the warning signs

• Warm air from the vents, or air that is only slightly cool
• Ice on the refrigerant line or the indoor coil
• Unusual noises such as grinding, squealing or repeated clicking
• A system that runs nonstop without reaching the set temperature

If you see these, shut the system off and call a licensed technician rather than running it further. Running a struggling unit can turn a modest repair into a compressor problem.

Make a plan before the forecast turns

It also helps to decide ahead of time what you will do if the system does stop. Know where your breaker panel is, keep your filter size written down, and identify the coolest room in the house where the family can spend the afternoon. Drinking water, closing off unused rooms and using fans can make a long wait much easier. Older adults, infants and pets are most vulnerable to heat, so check on neighbors who may not have a backup plan. A battery fan or a spare window unit can also bridge a gap while repairs are arranged.

For service before the next heat wave, or help when one has already arrived, reach Air-Tech at (509) 392-2021. The Pasco team works on all brands and offers 24-hour emergency service.