The 4th of July is an important day for us. Not just because we get to celebrate our country’s day of independence but also the first holiday of the summer that we get to celebrate with our family and friends.

Undoubtedly, plans are already in the making for parties and BBQs. It’s made even better by the fact that it’s during the summer and we can enjoy the day with sunshine and clear skies.

However, we need to consider the heat and its effects on us and our Air Conditioning unit. Turning on the AC helps but there are ways we can help increase its effectiveness. Here are some HVAC tips to help the AC run better, directly and indirectly.

Cool Down With Quality Hydration

An indirect HVAC tip is to stay hydrated. As much as we love cold soft drinks and adult beverages, they still affect us by dehydrating our bodies.

By drinking cold water or tea during a hot day, we can help ourselves stay cool. Cold water naturally lowers our body temperature and in response, we gain a higher tolerance for the hot weather.

By staying hydrated we are less likely to run the AC as much. A better heat tolerance means we are less dependent on the house staying cool and we can save lots of energy and money in the meantime.

Keep Up with Air Filter Replacement

A direct HVAC tip is to ensure the air filter is clean. An AC runs as efficiently as it can, but when the air is blocked by a dirty air filter, it causes it to run longer and use more energy in the process.

This can also happen if the doors are left open during a bbq. The smoke that enters your home will eventually filter through the AC unit causing it to become dirty more quickly.

Before your 4th of July party starts, check and clean your air filters. It is already the midway point through the year, so if you haven’t already, now is a good time.

Preventative Maintenance is Critical

The last HVAC tip to consider is to apply preventative maintenance. Consider this for a moment: You have a house full of guests.

They’re laughing and having fun inside the house because the weather outside is unbearably hot. Next thing you know, your AC is making loud and strange sounds before it suddenly dies.

Now, you have no way of ensuring your guests are comfortable for the remainder of the evening. This is a scenario that could be easily averted. Maintain your unit on a regular basis and this will help you to recognize if there’s a problem before it becomes a bigger issue.

Regular maintenance will also ensure a greater life expectancy and higher efficiency during its lifespan. By using these HVAC tips, you can stay cool and help your AC during the festivities. If you notice you have an issue with your unit, please give Reliability Home Services a call and we’d be happy to assist you!