Summer can place a considerable strain on your home's HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems. High temperatures, varying humidity levels, and increased water usage can pose challenges for homes with unprepared infrastructure. Get your home ready for summer with C.M. Mose & Son, so these issues won’t disrupt your beach time!
Common Summer HVAC Problems
As temperatures rise, so does your air conditioning unit’s workload. Summer temperatures cause your air conditioner (AC) or heat pump to run more frequently and for longer periods. This adds considerable wear and tear on your AC system and contributes to an increased risk of common summer HVAC issues, like:
- Refrigerant leaks
- Dirty condenser coils
- Blocked condensate drains
- AC failure
All of these summer home AC problems have immediate consequences. For example, a poorly maintained AC system has a lower cooling capacity, increases your energy bills, and may require emergency AC repairs if it fails unexpectedly. As many parts of the country experience longer, hotter summers, more Americans are using their AC units more often, and older systems are more likely to wilt under the heat!
Read more: Save Money with These Home Energy Efficiency Tips
Common Electrical Problems in the Summer
All that extra AC use is usually powered by one source: your home’s electrical system. Unlike heating systems, roughly 52% of which are powered by heating oil or natural gas, nearly every kind of AC unit runs on electricity.
In the home, increased energy use can lead to overloaded circuits, especially when using a window or portable air conditioning unit. Overloaded circuits can cause recurring tripped circuits, overheated outlets, and pose a risk of failure or damage to any devices plugged into those circuits.
Summer Power Surges
While power surges can occur in any season, they’re significantly more common during summer thunderstorms. Lightning strikes may cause power surges, damaging sensitive electronics like appliances, computers, and televisions. With so many frequent, strong storms in our area, we recommend preparing for power outages in summer with whole-home surge protectors to protect your favorite devices.
Summer Power Outages
Summer power outages are often due to the violent, windy storms that summer days can bring. And while summer power outages are inconvenient, they are also potentially costly. When power is restored, many grids spike in voltage at levels that are not much lower than a lightning strike. When preparing for power outages in the summer months, be sure to unplug sensitive electronics so they aren’t exposed to a power surge. It’s usually best to leave a single light on so you know when power is restored.
Common Summer Plumbing Problems—Don’t Blame the Heat
Hot temperatures won’t harm your plumbing system, but there is a seasonal change that directly impacts it: water usage.
Homeowners usually experience more plumbing problems in the summer because they use significantly more water. Most of that extra water use is for outdoor activities, such as pools, gardening, and watering the lawn. Between30% and 70% of summer water use is outdoors. Unfortunately, approximately half of outdoor water use is ultimately wasted due to evaporation.
The most common summer plumbing issues are:
- Leaks
- Sprinkler system failure
- Sewer line damage (usually from tree roots)
There’s No Place Like Kansas City in Peak Summer
Make the most of summer with professional home services from C.M. Mose & Son. Our trained technicians will inspect your home’s system and make reliable recommendations to prevent damage and prolong the functional lifespan of your equipment. Enjoy a safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient summer with no unexpected problems!
Call 816-339-5190 or contact us online to schedule HVAC, electrical, or plumbing services in Pleasant Valley and the surrounding areas.