TYLER (KYTX) - It's only the second week of summer to hit triple digits, but East Texans are already having problems with their air conditioning.
When it gets up above 100 degrees like it has been, these AC units start to struggle. Experts say keeping your unit maintained throughout the year can save you in heat like this.
Kathleen Murray lives in Tyler and she's been having air conditioning problems since last week.
"The main drain was stopped up and it was getting water underneath my brick floor," she says.
She got it fixed Monday - just in time for a week of temps over 100 degrees.
"It's horrible!" she says.
Her AC unit has gone out before and they had to replaced the whole unit. Replacing an entire air conditioning unit can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000.
That's why Todd Green, owner of East Texas Refrigeration, says maintenance is key.
"The tendency is to leave an air conditioner alone, let it run until it breaks," Green says. "If they would just take the simple step of having it maintained a couple times a year by a licensed contractor, then it would save them a ton of headaches when it gets this hot."
The one thing you can do on your own to maintain your AC unit is change the air filter. These things run about $5 to $10 and if you check them every 30 days, you can keep this thing in good condition.
Green says his phone has been ringing off the hook.
"A lot of condensation issues and AC's not working. The most common one is, 'I've got the thermostat set on 70, but it won't get below 75.' People have to understand that when it's 100 degrees outside, if you're getting a 25 degree difference, from indoor to outdoor ambient, then you're doing great," Green says.
Murray's just thankful to have air conditioning at all. If it went out in this heat, she says she wouldn't be sticking around.
"I would have to leave home. There's no doubt about that. I would go to a motel, as hot as it is!" she says.
Green says the best thing you can do is keep your thermostat on an average level throughout the day. He says the worst thing you can do is bring it way down, and then hike it back up over and over again.
Experts say you should have a licensed contractor come check your air conditioning unit twice a year.
Also, make sure you check up on the company you use, to make sure you're getting a fair price. Most contracts in East Texas run about $150 a year.
