Air conditioning is more than a luxury – in many parts of the United States it’s a must. With record temperatures being reported all over the country, now is the time to make sure your air conditioner makes it through these super-hot days. At AC World we’re always ready to help upgrade your system to an energy-efficient option that will last for decades but when you’re trying to keep your air conditioner in good shape for as long as possible, we’re here with some advice.

In fact, a Tulsa TV station, where temperatures have already hit over 100 degrees this year, published a piece called Howto make sure your air conditioning survives the summer. David Schuman writes, “When temperatures reach up past 110 degrees, the machines work hard. "In these severe temperatures, a typical air conditioner capacity will be cut in half," said Ken Goodrich, the owner of Goettl Air Conditioning. "A four-ton air conditioner will be running like a two-ton air conditioner."

Goodrich advises checking air filters once a month to make sure they're clean. Technicians also recommend annual tune-ups. Other tips include keeping the area around the units clear of leaves and other debris. If cooling stops working, Goodrich says the first thing to do is check the circuit breakers. He suggests turning them off somewhat forcefully, then switching them back on.

Don't leave the AC on. If it's broken, turn it off. At this time of year, it could be a while until technicians are available to come fix broken units. Goettl is booked with jobs for the next two weeks, but Goodrich says they prioritize senior citizens without air conditioning as well as women with small children.”

These are all great tips. At AC World we also encourage consumers to not wait until it’s too late to replace a faulty unit. As older air conditioners begin working less than ideally, they use more power and you’re much more likely to have a breakdown during a super-hot day of the year.

Instead, we recommend staying ahead of the trend and upgrading to a totally new heating and cooling system that will work wonderfully and use much less power. After all, why spend thousands on expensive repairs and maintenance on a unit that’s only going to last a year or two longer at best?