$1100's - $1800's

YOUR AC MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE 100 DEGREE HEAT...

We are seeing EXTREME hot temperatures in Houston right now! We wanted to address & inform residents on a few issues and provide a few tips to keep you cool during these hot summer days!

 

We receive many calls during the summer from residents frustrated with the a/c's ability to keep the apartment cool.  There is a reason why your air conditioner may not keep up with the 100-degree heat waves... 

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Generally speaking, an air conditioning system is designed to accommodate up to a 20 degree difference between the outside air and inside air while still keeping around a 55% humidity level which is comfortable.  

 

This means when it is 80 outside your AC can easily reach 70 degrees, since that is only a 10 degree temperature difference.  So even if it is 90 degrees out your air conditioner should still easily reach the 70 degree mark.  

 

However, if it is 100 degrees outside, it may be nearly impossible to reach 70 degrees inside without the air conditioner working completely overtime and causing problems such as excess humidity.

 

If you have your air conditioner set to a temperature that makes that differential more than twenty degrees you will likely run your AC all day long and still not quite reach those desired temperatures.

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What this means, if it’s 100 or more outside and your a/c is getting to 80 or below – it is doing its job. There are things, however, you can do to increase the efficiency to keep your apartment as comfortable as possible.  See the tips listed below.   

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If you feel your system is not operating normal or efficiently, please submit a maintenance request and one of our maintenance techs will come by to make sure there are no issues.  We will do our best to make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible!

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WHAT CAN YOU DO??  THERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU CAN DO THIS SUMMER TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR AC AND STAY COOL!

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CHECK OUT THESE TIPS TO STAYING COOL...​

Do NOT crank the thermostat down:

Leave your thermostat set where you normally have it. Moving the dial from 76° to 72° will not change the temperature of the air coming out of the registers; it just makes the unit run longer to reach the desired temperature. If your unit is already running full time to keep the apartment at 76°, moving the dial down will not make the house any cooler.  

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Make sure your air filter is clean

Take a look and change it or clean it if you even THINK it’s dirty. A dirty filter will slow airflow and make your AC unit work harder than it needs to. Check the size and buy a few extra at Walmart/Home Depot or Southland Hardware.  Change your air filter once a month during the summer months will help your AC run more efficient. If you are not able to do this, you can submit a maintnenace request for assistance. (Be sure to include your air filter size in your request)

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Do not block supply registers or returns

The key to comfort is to keep the air flowing. Move furniture around so that you are not blocking any supply or return registers.

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Close Those Shades!

Close your curtains, shades, or blinds: Keeping the sunshine out will help keep the rooms as cool as possible.  You can also invest in black out curtains. (Ikea has these for about $30/pair).   They’re good for more than blocking out light so you can sleep — they help reduce heat during the hottest parts of the day.

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The more sunlight that comes into your home, the hotter it's going to get. You can decrease the heat in your apartment by keeping blinds closed at the right times of the day.  Usually, the hottest part of the day is mid-afternoon around 3 p.m. This is because, even though the sun is no longer at its midday peak, the earth is expelling the heat it soaked up. Obviously, this does vary depending on where you live.

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Fans! Fans! Fans!

Use ceiling fans and/or box fans: A fan blowing its cool air directly on you is a great way to beat the heat.  Even warmer air feels cooler if it’s moving.

 

Adjust ceiling fan blades to spin in the right direction.

Not all apartments have ceiling fans, but if you have one, make sure the blades go in the right direction. During the summer, fan blades create the coolest breeze if they're moving counterclockwise.  Do a quick check to make sure things are moving in the right direction to keep you feeling comfy and cool.

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Avoid using your dryer and oven in the hottest hours of the day

These appliances can put off extra heat and use a lot of energy - every little bit helps!  

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Invest in a dehumidifier

When the amount of humidity in the air is high, the air feels warmer than what it actually is, while dry air, on the other hand, always feels cooler. Therefore, using a dehumidifier to cool a room would help you feel cooler, although it does not directly affect temperature. You might be shocked by the amount of water a dehumidifier will pull out of the air...welcome to Houston!

 

It may sound crazy...but put your sheets in the freezer!

Even if your bedroom stays on the warm side, there's no reason you can't keep things cool when you go to sleep.

Place your sheets and pillowcases in the freezer a few hours before bedtime and make your bed with them right before you get in. This can help cool your body down enough to fall asleep without the tossing and turning brought on by warm temperatures. 

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