Are you someone who looks at the 10-day forecast and groans or cheers when you see hot weather on the horizon? Whether you love it or hate it, heat waves are no joke. Your air conditioner (AC) is the key to helping you stay comfortable during this unusually hot weather, and that’s why it’s essential to keep it heat wave-ready with regular maintenance from a professional HVAC company.
What Is Considered a Heat Wave?
A heat wave is a period of uncomfortably hot weather that is not typical for a certain place at that time of year. These unusually high temperatures often last two to three days, but some can last from a few days to months. Heat waves can result in serious heat-related illnesses, which is why it is important to be careful and prepared when a heat wave is in the forecast.
One of the main defenses against incredibly high temperatures is your home’s cooling system. Staying indoors is usually the best option, especially for young children and older adults. That’s why you want to make sure that your air conditioner is heat wave-ready.
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Top 5 Ways to Prep Your Air Conditioner for a Heat Wave
Your AC works harder than normal when temperatures soar during a heat wave, and regular preventive maintenance helps it rise to the challenge with benefits like:
- Decreased workload and strain on components
- Improved efficiency and cooling capacity.
- Lower energy consumption.
- A reduced risk of breakdowns.
Here are five steps to prepare your AC for a heat wave:
1. Schedule Regular AC Tuneups
An AC tuneup is a preventive maintenance service where a professional technician inspects your system for defects or potential issues and corrects them to enhance performance, efficiency and reliability. It’s best to schedule this tuneup in spring before the weather heats up to get your AC ready for summer and possible heat waves. A typical AC tuneup includes:
- Cleaning coils and other components.
- Checking refrigerant levels.
- Inspecting electrical connections.
- Lubricating moving parts.
This is a tricky job, so it should be left to a skilled technician with the needed experience, tools and techniques.
2. Clean or Replace Your Air Filter
Air filters prevent dust, pollen, pet dander and other particles from decreasing your indoor air quality and settling on AC components, such as the evaporator coil. It’s best to replace your filter every three months, or more frequently if you have pets or experience lots of pollen and dust in your home. You can make it easier to change these filters with an AC filter vent cover, which holds the filter at the wall or ceiling.
If you need help changing your air filters, choosing the right one or installing vent covers, call the experts at FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical.
3. Seal Those Leaky Ducts
Leaking ducts allow air to escape your AC system, which reduces its overall efficiency, raises your electrical bills and leads to inconsistent cooling. Depending on where the leaks are, you may also experience poorer indoor air quality. If you notice any of these signs, reach out to one of our professionals — we’ll seal your ducts promptly to enhance your AC unit’s performance during heat waves, where even the smallest leak matters to overall comfort.
4. Optimize Your Thermostat Settings
Here are a few small tips to optimize your thermostat settings to use less energy while still cooling your home:
- Adjust your thermostat to about 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re home and set your air conditioner to an energy-saving temperature of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re away or asleep.
- Avoid setting the temperature too low, as this won’t make your AC cool your home faster — it may increase the run time since AC systems operate at a fixed rate.
- Consider installing a smart thermostat to set an energy-efficient temperature on your air conditioner from anywhere using your smartphone or voice commands.
5. Maximize Efficiency With Smart Habits
While your AC will do most of the work to keep your home cool, you can reduce some of the strain by adopting a few efficient habits:
- Keep the curtains and blinds closed during the day to reduce the indoor temperature.
- Avoid using heat-generating appliances, such as stoves, ovens, dryers and dishwashers, during peak hours.
- Avoid opening doors too often, as this will raise the indoor temperature by allowing cool air to escape and hot air to enter.
- Use ceiling fans to circulate air and decrease the temperature in your home.
Time to Call the Air Conditioning Professionals at FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
Prepare your AC unit to handle the harsh conditions of a heat wave by scheduling professional AC maintenance before the temperatures start rising. FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical offers two maintenance plans to meet your unique needs and keep your home comfortable during extreme weather.
Think you may need major AC repairs or a replacement to combat future heat waves? We can help with that, too! Explore our residential cooling services to learn more.
Ready to schedule an AC tuneup? Fill out our online contact form or call us at 586-271-8813.
Last Updated on October 10, 2025 at 1:30PM EST
