protect home appliances

With record highs for summer heat, it’s hard enough trying to keep yourself cool and comfortable, but did you know that the heat can also put a strain on your appliances? High temperatures make your air conditioner work harder, and the humidity can affect all sorts of electronics and systems.

If your appliances start to deteriorate from the heat, they will run less smoothly and efficiently and eventually break, costing you lots of money. Keep an eye on these machines and keep them properly maintained so that they work longer and better throughout the year. Learn how to protect home appliances from the summer heat with these tips from Complete Protection.

Air Conditioning

The air conditioning unit is one of the most important home appliances for keeping your family comfortable during the hottest parts of the year. It’s nice to conserve energy by limiting AC use, but some days it’s just too hot for open windows and ceiling fans to cut it. It’s a terrible feeling to realize that your AC broke on a 100+ degree day!

The AC unit not only cools your home, but also removes excess moisture from the air. When the weather is particularly humid, the system has to work extra hard. This strain could make it run inefficiently or break. If you are concerned that there’s too much moisture in the air for the AC to handle on its own, consider setting up a dehumidifier. They can come as either stand-alone appliances or as attachments to the existing AC system. This will relieve the pressure from your AC so that it can focus on cooling your house.

Another way you can help your AC system run smoothly is to keep it clean. Clean out the filters and condenser coils regularly, and make sure the nearby vegetation isn’t encroaching on the unit. By taking a good look at the system as a whole, including the coolant lines, you can boost efficiency and find problems before they cause a costly breakdown.

Refrigerator and Freezer

The summer heat is also hard on your refrigerator and freezer. By keeping these appliances running efficiently with proper maintenance, you’ll reduce the chances of coming home to warm, rotten food. Make sure the fridge is set to an optimal temperature between 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that the food is kept cool while also not straining the system too hard.

Another important aspect of keeping your fridge and freezer cool is to make sure they aren’t too close to the walls. Air can’t circulate properly around the condenser coils if the appliance is pushed too close to the wall, causing heat to build up. If the fridge overheats, it will run less efficiently and eventually break.

There are a few other simple tips for keeping the fridge and freezer running smoothly. Don’t overfill them, keep them clean, and frequently check to make sure all of the seals are closing properly. An easy way to check the seals is to stick a dollar bill in the door when you close it with an end sticking out. If you can pull it out easily, something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

Check out or previous blog here that goes more in-depth on refrigerator maintenance.

Water Heater

An often-overlooked appliance during the summer is the water heater. By reducing the water temperature, you will save money on energy consumption and save your water heater from overworking. Even the U.S. Department of Energy suggests turning down the water heater when it’s hot outside, claiming that you can save $12-$30 per month with each 10 degree decrease!

During the summer, your water pipes will be warmed by the sun during the day and lose less heat to the surrounding air. To keep the system from using unnecessary energy, turn down the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

If worst comes to worst and you do lose one of your crucial appliances in the summer heat, that’s when Complete Protection can step in and fix it up quickly through our home warranty plans. Don’t be left sweating during the hottest days of the year!

Protect your appliances from the summer heat with these maintenance tips. If you want some more info that can help protect home appliances, boost energy efficiency, and save you money, check out our other blogs here.