Keep air conditioner from working too hard

Gold Medal Service, an award-winning heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, drain cleaning, and waterproofing company, 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 expert perform routine maintenance on an air conditioner.

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. 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.

For additional information about Gold Medal Service, call 800-576-GOLD or go online to http://www.goldmedalservice.com.

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Keep air conditioner from working too hard