Why Do Furnaces and ACs Breakdown on the Most Extreme Days?
Have you ever noticed our ACs and furnaces seem to malfunction in during the hottest and coldest days of the year? Why is this? Bad luck, Murphy's Law? Pure coincidence?
It could simply just be bad timing. However, there could also be a few reasons causing these problems to show up in the worst times possible.
The simplest, and most common reason for ill-opportune HVAC breakdowns is because your heating or cooling unit is working its hardest during extreme seasonal temps. In the summer your AC is working hard to keep your home cool, and the same concept goes for your furnace during the winter. But, what conditions are setting the stage for your heating or cooling unit to become overworked?
The first issue to look for when your HVAC system is overworked in your air filters. Check and make sure your filter is not dirty or plugged. This will reduce airflow in your home, and force your heating or cooling unit to work harder than it needs to in order to distribute even temps throughout your home. Dirty filters have also been known to overheat your AC and trip the circuit breaker.
A second issue to watch for is dirty condenser coils. These coils are filled with refrigerant and run through your exterior AC unit or heat pump. If your AC coils become dirty or plugged, it can't release heat effectively. It's equivalent to wearing a sweater on a hot day! Your AC will continue running, trying to reach your thermostat settings, and will eventually overheat.
Third, a bigger issue that might apply to older homes is energy leakage. If your home is not properly insulated and exhausted with properly sealed windows and doors, you are potentially leaking cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter. If your HVAC unit can't keep up to your thermostat settings during extreme seasonal temps, you may need to address air leakage in your home to avoid overworking your heating and cooling units.
Whichever reason may be causing your HVAC system to overwork, it is probably one of the 3 issues above that causes breakdowns during the hottest and coldest days of the year.
The best way to avoid unexpected outages is by booking regular seasonal maintenance service calls. Our technicians are trained to spot current and upcoming problems that are about to happen based on the condition and wear of your heating and cooling systems.
Please give us a call at (204) 953-5700 to schedule your maintenance appointment to help prevent an unexpected breakdown.
