It goes without saying that your air conditioner represents a critical component of investment in your Denver home. The whole level of comfort depends on how well your air conditioning unit works during summer. At JDs Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, we often term air conditioners as life-saving units. With temperatures reaching as high as 95 degrees during the summer in Denver, imagine life without an air conditioner. In this blog post, we’ll be sharing practical tips on how to avoid your ac from overheating in the scorching heat of Colorado. Continue reading How to Avoid Overheating Your AC to avoid expenses AC repairs.
- What Causes AC to Overheat?
- How to Prevent Your AC From Overheating?
- Low (or Leaked) Refrigerant Levels
- Wrongly Sized AC Unit
- Clogged Air Filters
- Check Your Electrical Wiring and Connection
- Condenser Coils are Not Clean
- Create a Share for Your Outdoor Unit
- Professional AC Maintenance Services in Denver, CO
What Causes AC to Overheat?
Your AC overheats when there is more stress on it than the equipment can handle. There are a number of reasons why your AC could overheat, including but not limited to:
- Clogged Air Filters
- Dirty Condenser Coils
- Low Refrigerant
- Blocked Vents
- Eroded or Loose Electrical Connections
AC overheating is an avoidable problem, but if it occurs persistently, we’d suggest calling in HVAC professionals to help you in fixing the issue.
How to Prevent Your AC From Overheating?
Now that we’ve studied what causes your AC to overheat, let’s discuss the preventions. As always, prevention is better than the cure. Here are some of the ways to prevent your AC from overheating in the harsh summers of Denver, CO:
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Low, or Leaking Refrigerant Levels
It is the refrigerant circulating in the coils that causes your AC to throw in cool air. If the refrigerant level is low, or the coils have somehow been damaged, it will force your compressor to continue running uninterrupted for several hours. This will eventually put a strain on your AC, causing the compressor to overheat and even causing permanent damage. The only way your refrigerant levels get low is because of a leakage. If your outer unit has ice on it or there are hissing noises coming from your AC, it’s time to immediately turn your AC unit off and call Denver HVAC professionals.
Wrongly Sized AC Unit
A number of factors are taken into account whilst buying a new air conditioning unit in Denver, and your home size is one of them. A small AC unit will continue working for longer hours than expected, leading to overheating. This forces your air conditioner to continue running for long hours, raising your energy bills. An AC that’s too big will turn on for a few moments, cool your home, and then turn off. This leads to a continuous cycle of your compressor turning on and off, causing it to overheat. To determine the right size of your unit, it is essential to call an HVAC pro in Denver, such as JDs Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning. The correct HVAC company will inspect your home size, vents, ductwork and suggest the right brand and size of your air conditioning unit.
Clogged Air Filters
Wait, didn’t we mention it already? One of the common reasons for AC overheating is also the most preventable! All you need to do is change the air filters every three months. Filters trap in all the dirt, dust, pet hair, and other debris before it damages the electrical components of the AC. If you have pets at home, you need to change the air filters more frequently.
Check Your Electrical Wiring and Connection
Your air conditioner has a complex network of wiring and electrical components. Hence, care should be taken in installing the unit and setting up wiring. Loose or eroded wires can cause your AC to overheat and even burn the wire due to the high power your unit consumes. You might have noticed your AC shutting off when the circuit breaker trips. Well, that never happens without reason. It can mean that your AC is overheating, leading to the circuit breaker tripping automatically. If you continue ignoring this warning sign and repeatedly turn on your AC, you may actually end up permanently damaging your unit. It is always wise to let HVAC professionals perform a thorough inspection of your unit and fix any loose connections.
When Is The Best Time For An Air Conditioning Replacement?
Condenser Coils are Not Clean
The condenser coils in the external unit help in dissipating heat away from your house. However, their location makes it easy for them to get covered in dirt, debris, and dust, leading your unit to overheat. To avoid this problem, turn off your unit and use a water pressure hose to clean the coils. This will improve your unit’s efficiency and cooling, ensuring it keeps working in an optimum condition for a long time.
Outdoor Unit Under Direct Sunlight
We all know that summers in Denver aren’t easy for anyone to tackle. If your outdoor unit is under direct sunlight from morning till evening, there are chances it can overheat. Create a small shaded area for the outdoor unit to decrease its chances of getting overheated.
Professional AC Maintenance Services in Denver, CO
If your AC is overheating, give JDs Plumbing Heating & AC a call. We will visit your Denver home and a trained expert will conduct an in-depth checkup of your air conditioning unit and uncover any underlying problems. We will fix the issue with your AC unit.
