Summer AC maintenance is a vital task for all homeowners, no matter where they live. If you’re a Texas homeowner, you know how unpredictable the weather can be, which may spell trouble for your AC unit if left unattended. The hot and humid climate of Austin can be hard on your cooling system.

Green Leaf is here to give you 5 energy-saving tips and a bonus of 4 summer hacks for AC maintenance to help you stay cool, safe, and comfortable all summer long. We’ll even let you know how HVAC maintenance can prolong the life of your equipment and how our AC experts at Green Leaf can make home comfort more attainable for you this summer.

Now, let’s dive in!

Texas temperatures soar in the summer and are wildly unpredictable. Not only can this be annoying, but it also has real impacts on your home and the appliances that keep it running. For example, if your AC reaches cooling capacity, which is likely to happen in this 100-degree weather, your system’s efficiency decreases. This means that less and less cooling power is available, so it takes more energy to cool your home and ends up costing more.

Additionally, summer heat can breach your home by heating up the windows and seeping in through cracks. If you’re not careful, these impacts the heat has on your home could even end up affecting your utility costs.

Relative humidity has both direct and indirect effects on the cooling power of your AC. Humidity indirectly affects your energy bill by making you feel hotter. This may lead you to lower the thermostat, which raises your electricity bill. 

It can also affect your cooling power and utility bills because it causes condensation to build up on components inside the outdoor unit. Doing so will cause your system to run nonstop, leading to energy waste and less efficient cooling. It directly impacts cooling capacity because while humidity does not directly affect the temperature, it does affect the amount of available energy for cooling.

Increased humidity in your home is often a sign that an HVAC replacement is in your future so give our experts a Green Leaf a call if you’re having trouble regulating the humidity levels in your home.

Even without messing with the thermostat, your AC can account for almost half of your summer energy bill. Unfortunately, lowering your thermostat only increases the pressure faced by your HVAC unit. The harder it has to work, the higher your bill each month. Overworked ACs also have the potential to make your home hotter, so instead of messing with the temperature, here are some tips to beat the Austin heat.

1. Open windows in shaded areas or at night and use fans to circulate air so that your ac can run less frequently and stay at a higher setting.
2. Turn off the lights during the day and capitalize on natural lighting. Light produces heat and so turning them off reduces how much hot air your AC has to get rid of.
3. Upgrade the insulation in your attic to reduce the amount of cool air escaping through the attic and to prevent hot air from getting in.
4. Keep the curtains closed at extreme peaks and use light-shaded blinds that repel heat rather than capturing it.
5. Stagger how frequently you use large home appliances like a washer, dryer, or stove. These types of machines, especially the stove, generate heat and can make it more difficult to cool your home consistently.

To keep an eye on this, you should inspect your vents and air ducts regularly. If you notice damage, call a specialist. A Green Leaf expert is specialized in duct work repair and can have your air ducts blowing at full capacity and have your energy bills returned to normal in no time.

Austin, Texas, summers take a heavy toll on your HVAC System and energy bill. Between the soaring temperatures and high humidity levels, your AC is caught in a perpetual workout cycle. It’s critical that you complete maintenance tasks so that your air handler is motivated to keep your home cool and comfortable. 

Fortunately, you can take matters into your own hands and use our 9 tips to keep your AC maintenance costs low. Simple things, such as using natural light during the day and upgrading the insulation by your doors and windows, can save you a lot of money in the long run. Completing these tasks will discourage heat from accumulating indoors and lighten your AC’s load so it does not have to work as hard.

You can lighten your AC’s load further by completing several light DIY summer AC maintenance tasks to keep it operating at its best. Some of these tasks include cleaning the condenser coils, cleaning the air ducts, and examining the wiring for signs of damage. By performing regular tune-up chores, you are setting your HVAC equipment up for success and ensuring your comfort all summer long. For additional tips on how to beat the summer heat and save on energy, check out this blog on more Summer HVAC Tips. 

Still, DIY tune-ups do not replace preventative maintenance. Our expert HVAC technicians at Green Leaf can inspect and maintain your system and ensure that everything is operating smoothly. We even make it easy and affordable with our maintenance plans. For one price, you get two maintenance visits a year so that our HVAC specialists can ensure that your air handlers are in tip-top condition. With our service, you are saving thousands of dollars in the long run by increasing the life expectancy of your HVAC system —not to mention protecting your peace of mind.

Take action and save green this summer with AC Maintenance from Green Leaf!