Your AC May Struggle When Temperatures Exceed 95°

Summer temperatures in Florida are no laughing matter. Outside temperatures can reach up to 95° (or more), and your AC system will most likely not be able to adjust, especially during summer's hottest days. During the summer, we tend to receive an influx of calls from customers concerned that their AC systems are not cooling their homes properly.

Did you know that your AC system is not designed for 95° heat? HVAC systems are designed for the average temperature in your area. They're also designed to cool your home to a maximum of 20° below the outside temperature. 

So while it might seem like your AC system is simply not working, it is probably doing everything it can to cool your home during the few days of summer with extremely high temperatures.

Here are a few easy questions to ask yourself if you are wondering whether the issue is with your AC or if it's just the heat: 

1. Does the system eventually start cooling your home properly in the middle of the night or early morning when the outside temperature has cooled down? If the answer is yes, the problem is more than likely the extreme heat outside.

2. Is your AC system cooling your home a little? If it is close to 20° cooler on the inside of your house than it is outside, it is probably doing all it can. If the temperature in your house is closer to the outside temperature, you probably have an AC issue and you may need service.

3. Are there any signs of a problem such as a water leak at the indoor unit, ice on the indoor or outdoor coils, or your AC simply isn't cooling your home? If yes, you probably need a service call.

1. Use your ceiling fans.

2. Keep your blinds closed.

3. Run your dishwasher and laundry at night.

4. Set your thermostat higher than you normally would to give your system a break. Operating in extreme heat can cause breakdown of motors, capacitors and other parts.

5. Make sure your filter is clean, this will ensure your system is operating at peak efficiency with no airflow restrictions.

6. Cut back shrubbery and anything else that is around your outdoor unit, it needs room to “breathe.”

7. Cook outside on your grill. Avoid heating up the house with the oven if possible.

8. Keep doors and windows closed and try not to open and close the doors to outside too often.

9. Have your system serviced seasonally to ensure weak parts are detected before they break down in the extreme heat. Check out our maintenance plans.

If at any time, you are not sure if you're experiencing a problem with your AC or if it's just the heat, give us a call at 239-768-5558.

Advanced Air is available to help you 24/7 – 7 days a week.