Getting ready for the Heat

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Break in the heat a good time to get your A/C working


Don’t let today’s pleasant weather fool you — hot weather is on its way, and sooner than you think.

The Rio Grande Valley had a taste of summer weather Monday, as temperatures soared to the 90s.

In fact, McAllen set a new record high for that day when it reached 96 degrees at about 4 p.m.

The last record was 94 degrees, set in 1944, said Joseph Tomaselli, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s station in Brownsville. The Valley’s average temperatures for this time of year are in the mid- to high 70s, Tomaselli said.

Blame the heat on south and southwestern winds that preceded today’s cold front, said Greg Flatt, lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Temperatures are forecast to only reach the mid 70s today and Wednesday. Then they are expected to jump back to the 80s later this week.

More cool days are anticipated throughout the next month or so, but come late April the hot weather will be here to stay, Flatt said.

“Our summer gets here a little sooner,” he said.
So now would be a good time to make sure your air conditioning unit is properly working.
People should have their air conditioning units checked at least once a year and regularly replace filters to avoid any unexpected problems when they need cold air the most, according to local air conditioning repairmen.

Jose Avendano, owner of Cardenas Air and Heat in McAllen said people should keep up with their air conditioning unit maintenance like they keep up the maintenance of their cars.
“How often do you wash your car? Every time it’s dirty,” he said.

Homeowners should check the outdoor and indoor units to see how dirty the system is. If their unit needs cleaning, call a professional instead of trying it yourself so as to not risk getting hurt or damaging the unit, Avendano said. He also urged homeowners to check the batteries on their thermostats once a year to make sure it’s giving the right readings.
Another way to keep repair costs and temperatures low is to sign a maintenance agreement with a repair company you trust, said Ramon Gonzalez, owner of Azteca Electrical and Mechanical in McAllen.

Under the agreement, technicians check the air conditioning units at least once a year to make sure everything is smoothly running. Technicians can give the owners a heads-up to any potential problems and fix them before they become a larger and more expensive one, Gonzalez said. Contract prices vary by company.

Gonzalez also encouraged homeowners to clean out the coils because they’ve been known to collect ants, pet hair and other debris from outside.

Now, when the weather is still temperate, is the best time to check air conditioning units, because when summer comes it will be harder finding a technician who is readily available, he said.