How to make your home more comfortable using Elite AC
May 31, 2019
How to Lower Energy Bills: Tips for Staying Cool This Summer
June 21, 2019
If you live in the Jacksonville area, you know how extreme the weather can be. From grueling heat waves and severe thunderstorms to torrential rain and hurricanes, the weather in Northeast Florida can wreak havoc on your home, including your HVAC system. The last thing you want is for the weather to damage your HVAC system and leave you without air conditioning, especially during the warmer months.
Below, we’ve listed the potential ways change in the weather affects your HVAC system and how to keep it working efficiently and effectively.
EXTREME HEAT
In Florida, known as “The Sunshine State,” soaring temperatures during the summer months can strain your HVAC system’s efficiency and inflate energy bills. These temperature fluctuations can challenge HVAC units designed to operate in up to 100-degree Fahrenheit conditions, maintaining homes roughly 20 degrees cooler than outdoors.
During extreme heat, your HVAC system may struggle to cool the surrounding hot air, hindering indoor comfort. Combat this by strategically planting trees or tall foliage near the unit to provide shade, reducing ambient air temperature. Another tactic involves adjusting a lawn sprinkler to mist the unit’s exterior, effectively lowering its internal Freon temperature, especially when temperatures surpass 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Implementing such measures can potentially decrease your home’s internal temperature by up to 10 percent, ensuring optimal HVAC performance amidst changing weather conditions.
RAINFALL AND FLOODING
The weather in Florida can go from sunny to torrential rain in a blink of an eye. Fortunately, most of the parts in your HVAC system are made of aluminum, copper or other metals and are engineered to withstand even heavy rainfall. As well, the electrical connections and components are sealed to be impervious to the indirect moisture posed by rainfall. But in the case of flooding, if standing water exceeds around 15 inches in depth, water can damage your outdoor HVAC system. If you experience severe flooding, have an HVAC specialist check out your unit and make sure it’s working properly.
SEVERE STORMS
Thunderstorms and hurricanes can be quite common in Florida, and extremely dangerous. With
them comes heavy downpours and high winds. While your HVAC system is built to withstand the rain, wind can damage it during a severe storm. Fallen objects, such as tree branches, can damage the condenser fan grille or deposit leaves and other debris inside your HVAC system. Be sure to inspect the exterior and interior of the unit after a severe storm.
If your HVAC system has been damaged by extreme weather and you’re in need of AC repair, or if you want to make sure your air conditioner is working at full capacity, call the experts at Elite AC today. We’ll help you keep your home cool and comfortable, no matter the weather.
