How Do You Keep Your AC Running?

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The triple digit temperatures mean air conditioners are on full blast all across the Tulsa area.  How can you make sure your AC keeps you cool this summer?  The experts say  simple preventative maintenance can help you avoid the nightmare of having your AC going out in the middle of this heat wave.

A hot Wednesday meant a day filled with non-stop maintenance calls for repairman Steve Erwin.  He says, unfortunately, if you wait until there's a problem to call him, then there may be little you can do to avoid a stiff repair bill.

"The big thing is lack of maintenance. If they would have had their units maintained, they could have saved themselves a service call a lot of times," said Steve Erwin with Air Assurance.

Of course, as this heat wave continues to worsen, PSO says many customers are legitimately concerned about not losing power for their air conditioning.

"It's certainly heightened. If there is a power outage, it can be really critical that we address those as quickly as possible," said PSO's Stan Whiteford.

PSO says so far, outages have been minor, and the grid has been able to handle the extra demand for energy.

"Equipment occasionally fails. But that happens occasionally year-round. But, in the summer you can see a little bit more of that," said PSO's Stan Whiteford.

Erwin says cleaning a unit's coils and filters is a simple step that can make all the difference.

"With it being so hot, and if they're stopped up, they can't transfer heat, so the units run continuous and don't shut off," said Steve Erwin with Air Assurance.

In addition to common sense measures like turning your thermostat up a few degrees before heading to work, PSO also recommends switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs.  Experts say they generate less heat, and make it easier for your AC unit to cool your house.

The Tulsa Weather Coalition provides help for the elderly and people with medical conditions who need air conditioning. Find out more at the Tulsa Weather Coalition web site.