{"id":2191,"date":"2025-06-23T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/?p=2191"},"modified":"2025-06-26T14:00:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T18:00:07","slug":"how-to-prep-your-ac-for-the-southern-summer-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/how-to-prep-your-ac-for-the-southern-summer-heat\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prep Your AC for the Southern Summer Heat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Summer in Louisiana is no joke. There are long stretches of high heat, heavy humidity, and the occasional severe storm. It&#8217;s absolutely essential that your air conditioning system is ready to handle the workload. A little preparation and <a href=\"\/service-areas\/covington-la-air-conditioning-heating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AC maintenance in Covington, LA<\/a> can go a long way toward avoiding mid-summer breakdowns. It&#8217;ll also lower your energy bills and keep your home comfortable and safe. Here\u2019s how to get your AC system ready for the Southern summer heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Professional-Heating-And-Air-how-to-prep-your-ac-for-the-southern-summer-heat.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Professional-Heating-And-Air-how-to-prep-your-ac-for-the-southern-summer-heat-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Covington homeowner discussing AC maintenance with technician in shaded front yard\" class=\"wp-image-2218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Professional-Heating-And-Air-how-to-prep-your-ac-for-the-southern-summer-heat-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Professional-Heating-And-Air-how-to-prep-your-ac-for-the-southern-summer-heat-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Professional-Heating-And-Air-how-to-prep-your-ac-for-the-southern-summer-heat-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Professional-Heating-And-Air-how-to-prep-your-ac-for-the-southern-summer-heat.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2>Schedule Professional Maintenance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most important step you can take is to schedule <a href=\"\/air-conditioning\/maintenance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">professional AC maintenance<\/a> with our experienced team. A licensed technician will inspect your system top to bottom\u2014checking refrigerant levels, cleaning coils, tightening connections, lubricating moving parts, and ensuring everything is operating safely and efficiently. Preventative maintenance helps catch small issues before they become costly problems and ensures your AC is running at peak performance when you need it most. Don\u2019t wait for a breakdown\u2014book your tune-up with us now to beat the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Change Your Air Filter Monthly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In Louisiana, high humidity and airborne allergens can clog your air filter faster than you might think. A dirty filter restricts airflow, making your system work harder and use more energy. It also reduces indoor air quality. Make a habit of checking your filter every month and replacing it as needed\u2014especially during heavy cooling season. This simple step helps protect your system and keep your indoor air fresher and healthier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Keep the Outdoor Unit Clean and Clear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your AC&#8217;s outdoor condenser unit needs plenty of breathing room to function properly. Check the area around your unit regularly and remove any leaves, grass clippings, or other debris. Trim back any shrubs or plants so there\u2019s at least two feet of clearance on all sides. This helps the system dissipate heat effectively, which is crucial in the Louisiana climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Use Ceiling Fans to Circulate Air<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ceiling fans don\u2019t cool the air, but they do make your space feel cooler by circulating the air and helping your body stay comfortable. This allows you to raise the thermostat by a few degrees without sacrificing comfort. Set your fans to spin counterclockwise in summer for the best effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Consider a Whole-House Dehumidifier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Humidity in Louisiana can make even moderate temperatures feel sweltering. A whole-house dehumidifier works alongside your AC to pull excess moisture from the air, making your home feel cooler and more comfortable while reducing the strain on your cooling system. Having one of these systems professionally installed is an excellent investment that pays off in both comfort and energy savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Seal Leaks and Block Heat Gain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t let your cool air leak out or the hot air come in. Seal up drafts around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk. Cover sun-facing windows with blackout curtains, reflective shades, or UV-filtering films to reduce heat gain. These simple adjustments help your AC work less and save you money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Program or Upgrade Your Thermostat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Set your thermostat to automatically adjust when you\u2019re away or asleep. Better yet, upgrade to a smart thermostat that learns your habits and optimizes comfort and efficiency. A properly programmed thermostat can cut cooling costs without sacrificing comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Need help getting your AC ready for summer?<\/strong>&nbsp;Schedule your <a href=\"\/air-conditioning\/maintenance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">seasonal tune-up<\/a> with our expert HVAC team today. We\u2019ll make sure your system is ready to keep you cool all summer long\u2014no stress, no surprise breakdowns. Let\u2019s beat the heat together!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"\/contact\/send-message\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>When you need it done right, contact Professional Heating &amp; Air.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s how to get your AC system ready for the Southern summer heat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2218,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[70],"tags":[38,108],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2191"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2219,"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191\/revisions\/2219"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aprofessionalheatingandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}