Tips to properly maintain your air conditioner in high temperatures

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Heating and cooling companies have experienced an above average number of calls from homeowners during this long stretch of heat. The long days of heat, coupled with the age of the cooling system can which cause air conditioning units to not function properly.

Tyler Backus, a service technician at Grasshopper Heating and Cooling, said another culprit when it comes to homes having problems cooling down properly is dirty air filters.

"Make sure that it's free from any kind of debris, pollen, dirt, tree branches, anything that could make a blanket, on that outdoor unit to cause the heat to not transfer out of the house as quick," Backus said.

Kevin Chorost, a homeowner whose air conditioning unit required service after not cooling down his home correctly, said he had not yet had a chance to check his air filters as Upstate is experiencing early season temperatures.

"We set it for 76 degrees, and it was going back up into the 80s," Chorost said. "It would not keep its temperature. It would stop once it reached it, but then climbed back up and never came back on again."

Backus recommends setting your thermostat to "on" inside your home instead of "auto." He says that this will help the system fully run until it turns off. Backus said turning your air conditioner to 70 degrees is advised, as turning it too low makes the unit work harder and can lead to further issues.

Amanda Triolo, the owner and CEO of Grasshopper Heating and Cooling, said there are measures you can take before calling a professional that could aid in the process of cooling down your home.

"Make sure those windows are closed and locked," she said. "Make sure that ceiling fans are on if you have them, and then make sure if you have blinds, close those blinds so it keeps the cool inside and most of that heat moves out."

To minimize complications with air conditioning units during days of high heat, Backus suggests hosing down your outdoor air filters and doing regular maintenance on your air conditioning units throughout the year to prevent the need to call a heating and cooling company on days of extreme heat.