Keep Your Air Conditioner from Working Too Hard this Summer
EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (PRWEB) June 10, 2014 -- As summer approaches in New Jersey, Gold Medal Service, an award-winning heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, drain cleaning, and waterproofing service company servicing the state, encourages area homeowners to make sure their air conditioning units are in good working order and not at risk of overloading the electrical system and causing a surge or outage.
About 80 percent of power surges that occur in homes are due to devices, such as air conditioning units, that require a great deal of energy to turn on and off, and to run. As the weather gets hotter through the summer, New Jersey families are running their air conditioning more often, increasing the likelihood of overloading their home’s electrical wiring and causing a surge or outage. One of the best ways to prevent this is to have a Gold Medal Service expert perform routine maintenance on an air conditioner.
“Your air conditioner takes a beating during the summer, but routine maintenance can keep it running at optimum performance. Our experts can also identify any potential problems and perform repairs before they get out of hand and cause a unit failure or power outage,” said Mike Agugliaro, co-founder of Gold Medal Service. “Routine maintenance is also important for your unit’s manufacturer warranty. If you don’t have the air conditioner checked regularly, you could invalidate the warranty and spend more money in the long run.”
In addition to the possibility of a home’s air conditioning unit overloading the electrical system, summer storms can bring lightning, and local utility companies may turn power grids on and off to monitor usage. These events can also trigger surges.
It’s also important to protect other electronic devices and appliances inside the home in the event that a power surge does happen. A power surge is likely to cause damage to computers, televisions and their accessories, security systems, alarm clocks, garage door openers, and even appliances like washers and dryers, refrigerators, and dishwashers. The air conditioning unit, while less susceptible to damage, is at risk, especially if it is the cause of a power surge. It can impact electronic devices even if they are not currently in use.
Homeowners can buy surge protector power strips to use throughout their homes. A Gold Medal Service expert can install an arrester at the electrical meter or panel that can help divert extra energy during a surge. And homeowners can also get a generator from Gold Medal Service, to provide backup power in the case of an outage.
In the event of a power outage during the summer, whether caused by the air conditioner, storms, or by an overloaded civic electrical system, it’s important to take steps to protect the air conditioning unit, other items in the home, and family members.
Turn off an air conditioning unit during a power outage, and do not turn it back on for several minutes after the power is restored. To stay cool, dress in breathable clothing and use natural ventilation with windows to cool the home. Wrap blankets around refrigerators and freezers, and keep them closed, to keep food as cold as possible. If frozen food still has ice crystals on it, it should be safe to eat. Keep bottled water and other canned drinks in a cool place for easy access without having to open the refrigerator. If necessary, find another place to stay and call Gold Medal Service to have an expert check on restoring the power to the home.
“A power surge or outage is certainly an inconvenience, and it can be dangerous if you’re not prepared and protected,” said Agugliaro. “If you’re concerned about the safety of your air conditioning unit and electrical wiring, our experts can make sure your home is protected from power surges and outages – saving you hassle and money for expensive repairs and replacements. And consider a generator to provide an extra level of protection from power outages.”
For more information about Gold Medal Service or to schedule an appointment for air conditioner maintenance, call 800-576-GOLD or visit http://www.goldmedalservice.com.
About Gold Medal Service
Gold Medal Service, rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, was founded in New Jersey in 1994 with just two employees. Their vision was to provide homeowners with a reliable and trustworthy home service company customers could count on to fix just about anything that could go wrong in a home. Since then Gold Medal has grown to include more than 120 employees and technicians solving plumbing, heating, cooling, electric, drain, waterproofing, and sewer issues for homeowners across the state of New Jersey. Gold Medal Service is an Angie’s List “Super Service Award” recipient. For more information, call 800-576-GOLD or visit http://www.goldmedalservice.com.
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Heather Ripley, Ripley PR, http://www.ripleypr.com, +1 865-977-1973, [email protected]
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