TULSA, OKLA. (KTUL) — With a heat dome over much of the region this week, Green Country residents will be cranking up the air conditioning, and it’s no surprise local HV/AC companies say they’ve been seeing a spike in service calls this summer.
“The higher the humidity, the harder your system has to work,” said Trey Thomas-Piazza, the owner of the Service Experts Franchise in Tulsa.
“A lot of people think if I turn the thermostat down lower, it’s going to get colder air or it’s going to work harder, and it is working harder, but that’s the problem. It’s putting too much strain on the unit,” said Cassie Pound, Vice President of Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electric.
This strain can push aging A/C systems past their breaking point. Pound says they are seeing preventable breakdowns every day.
“Listening for noises that don’t sound normal. What are you hearing? Sometimes we can catch things a lot quicker and save some costly repairs. If we are paying attention, does the house not feel like it normally does? Not just with the heat, but are you feeling a lot of really hot spots?” said Pound.
Pound says if you notice any of these symptoms, to have a professional come out and do a preventative maintenance.
Thomas-Piazza also shared a few tips that can reduce the need for repairs.
“What we advise homeowners to do is, yes, change your filters. When you’re mowing the yard, make sure the grass clippings are shooting away from the unit and not towards it,” said Thomas-Piazza.
Pound says on top of avoiding costly repairs, you can also save money on your utility bill by considering what time of day you cook, so your house doesn’t get too hot and cause your unit to run longer.
If you have ceiling fans, here’s an extra tip, “Make sure they’re in their summer mode, which is a counterclockwise direction. That’ll help circulate that air throughout the home,” said Thomas-Piazza.
