Air Conditioning Woes of New Mexico’s Dry Heat

When the day is at its hottest you may find your air conditioner can not keep up. Or perhaps there are odd sounds from the system and your energy bills have crept up. It is easy to ask what it is about the climate in New Mexico that is so unforgiving to cooling equipment.

We see this sort of thing all the time. For over 30 years the folks at Ace Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical have put homeowners in Albuquerque and beyond at ease for the duration of our long dry summers. Put in a call to (505) 578-5066 for an unvarnished answer from a licensed, insured team.

An air conditioner is built to deal with the kind of humid summer you would find elsewhere; New Mexico’s dry heat is another matter altogether and it exacts a toll on your equipment. If you know how and why things go wrong you can nip a small issue in the bud rather than face a costly repair.

The Hardship of Dry Heat on Your AC

Most make the mistake of thinking their AC has to work as hard here as in other parts of the country, but the high desert is a different proposition. You have intense sun, little humidity and dust in the wind, all of which are an adversary to your cooling system.

With low humidity the system has to run on for longer to get to the temperature you want, and that puts more wear on the moving parts. Throw in the sand and fine dust that is in the air and you will be looking at clogs and breakdowns down the line.

What We Find in New Mexico Homes

Our technicians have been around enough in Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Gallup, the North Valley and Albuquerque to spot the same problems in dry-climate homes:

• Filters clogged with desert grit
• Evaporator coils frozen due to an overworked system or poor airflow
• Aged components leaking refrigerant under the strain of a hot summer
• Compressors worn out from too many long run cycles
• Condenser coils so full of dust they cannot shed heat
• Capacitors giving way to the heat, being the first electrical part to fail
• A thermostat that has the system cycling all wrong

For the most part these are issues you can avoid with some attention. And should a part go, an early detection makes for a modest bill.

On the Subject of Evaporative Coolers

There is no shortage of New Mexico homes using an evaporative, or swamp, cooler in lieu of refrigerated air. They are suited to our climate, adding moisture as they cool. But maintenance is required to deal with pump issues, worn pads and the mineral deposits left by hard water.

If you are in two minds about making the switch we can put the pros and cons in front of you. There is no one size fits all solution; it is a matter of your house, your comfort and what you can put down for it.

A Few Things to Do for Your System

One need not be an expert to put some extra years on an air conditioner. In the desert a couple of simple habits go a long way:

• The label on your filter is a suggestion; with the amount of dust we have you should be changing it more frequently
• See that the outdoor condenser is free of leaves and weeds
• Use a garden hose to put a light rinse on the condenser coils
• Get a tune-up done before the onset of summer
• Be prompt if you detect warm spots, an unusual odor or an uptick in your power bill

Do not put it off when something is amiss. What is running poorly in June is going to be worse come July and August.

Give Ace a Ring

You can put in a new filter yourself, but leave the compressor or any electrical and refrigerant trouble to a pro. We are a mission-driven company run by veterans and hold an A plus with the Better Business Bureau. Our estimates are free and without pressure, and we stand behind our 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Wells Fargo can be used for financing.

The desert does not observe business hours and neither do we, so we are open around the clock. Whether the system has given out in the middle of the night or you want some assurance before the season gets underway, our team is on hand.

(505) 578-5066 is the number for Ace Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical. Call us to set up a free estimate or have us put in an appearance. We will make sure you are cool for the rest of the summer.