As Canada Day approaches, it’s time to think about how you’ll spend the day and honour the country’s birthday this year. While everyone has their own traditions, for many it’s a day of festivals, parades, air shows or fireworks. It’s also a popular time to host barbecues and have parties with friends and families.
During all of the day’s activities, though, it can also be a hot day and a time when it’s difficult to stay cool. If you’re hosting a party this Canada Day or anytime this summer, you’ll want to make sure that you can keep your home cool and comfortable for your guests. With that goal in mind, here are a few HVAC tips to help you stay comfortable even on our hottest days.
Work to Stay Hydrated
Few people associate hydration with a way to take the pressure off of your HVAC system, but interestingly it can be an effective way to do just that.
When you drink cold water and stay well hydrated on hot days, you not only provide yourself with refreshment but you can actually lower your body temperature.
When you do this, your body stays cooler even in warmer conditions. Basically what this means is that you can feel a little bit cooler without having to turn down the thermostat.
It’s a win-win as you reap the health benefits that come from good hydration while also not overworking your HVAC unit. So, this is one of those HVAC tips that we should all be applying on a regular basis.
Stay on Top of Air Filters
When your air filters are not clean, it can put added pressure on your system and make it hard for your air conditioner to cool. Dirty air filters restrict airflow and mean less cool air gets to your home.
As you can imagine, hosting barbecues or other summer events often force your air filters to work a little bit harder making it all the more important that they’re in good shape.
You should change your air filters at least every 90 days. However, it’s always a good idea to check your filters regularly to ensure that they’re clean and in good condition. This is a particularly good idea if you’re about to host an event and want to ensure that you’re not putting an added strain on your HVAC unit.
Don’t Skip Preventative Maintenance
If you’re planning to host a big event this Canada Day, the last thing that you want is for your air conditioning to go out when your house is full of people.
While you can’t always avoid such an outage, staying up to date on preventative maintenance is the most effective way to prevent this.
While it can be easy to fall behind on your air conditioning maintenance, it’s a good idea to schedule a service call before your next event if you’re behind. As a reminder, your ac unit should be cleaned, serviced and inspected at least once a year, and your air ducts should be thoroughly cleaned about every three years.
We hope that these HVAC tips help you to stay cool and comfortable this Canada Day. And, if you have any concerns about your HVAC unit or think that it needs service, call us today to schedule an appointment at (403) 230-2689.
