There is probably no worse feeling than having your air conditioning die in the dog day of summer. August temperatures around Atlantic City can reach into the high 80s. Average relative humidity ranges between 76 and 86 percent, making the summer swelter. So, how do you prevent AC failure when you need your aircon more than ever?

How to Keep Your AC Running All Summer

The following tips will help keep your air conditioner happy, which will keep you happy in return:

1. Change the filters

When AC filters get clogged, your system over-cycles and switches on continuously. This can cause your system to overwork and reduces airflow through your home.

2. Clear the area

Make sure the yard around your outdoor condensing unit is free of debris, grass, and weeds. Your condenser needs good ventilation to give you good ventilation.

3. Clear the lines

Condensate lines remove excess humidity from the HVAC system and these lines can get clogged. Usually, it’s a buildup of algae in the drain pan. Add a cap or two of household bleach to the condensate pan to prevent clogging.

4. Pull the plug

Your outside condensate drain can also clog up. Make sure there is nothing obstructing the flow from the system, such as leaves, dirt, and even small critters.

5. Give it a rest

When overworked, your air conditioner coils can freeze up. This results in no cold air flow at all until you defrost it. So, resist the temptation to keep your AC running 24/7.

6. Clean the coils

Dirty coils also increase the chance of frozen coils. You can perform some preventative maintenance yourself by cleaning the coils in the air handler with a long-handled brush. A vacuum clean with a detail wand also removes dusty bunnies and pet hair from the coils.

7. Thermostat compromise

Cranking down the thermostat doesn’t work any faster than your setting. Find a thermostat setting the whole family can live with and stick to it.

8. Open up

Don’t be tempted to close off vents in unused rooms. Your system needs to maintain the right balance of airflow to work effectively. Closing off vents or rooms disrupts the balance between the intake to the unit and the outflow of cold air.

9. Reduce heat load

Instead of increasing cooling, try reducing the amount of heat used in your home. Cooking, laundry, and electronics all put off heat that adds up throughout the day.

10. Critical Step to Prevent AC Failure This Summer

The most important way to prevent AC failure this summer is to schedule your annual AC tune-up. Call in a trusted professional to clean and service your system.

Keep your AC purring happily throughout the summer months. Make an appointment today with the pros at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning in Pleasantville. Our technicians can quickly tune up your system and troubleshoot any potential problems before they result in a complete AC failure.