
Now, the key to understanding how does outside temperature affects air conditioners is this: This has all to do with the expansion (indoors) and compression of air (outdoors). This principle is underpinned by a refrigeration cycle. Here is the basic working principle of every air conditioner: To understand why AC units behave differently at different outdoor temperatures, we need to look into how air conditioners work in the first place: Why Does Outdoor Temperature Affect Air Conditioners? On top of that, it will help to keep the cool air indoors as well. During high outdoor temperatures, good insulation will reduce the transfer of heat from outdoors to indoors. Note: Besides the AC units, the other key factor that affects the indoor temperature levels is insulation. These include higher cooling costs, the lower lifespan of AC units due to increased wear-and-tear, indoor temperature fluctuations, longer cooling times, increase in accumulated water accumulation, AC units being louder, and so on. Running an AC unit at very high or very low outdoor temperatures can lead to a number of negative effects. Luckily, we mostly don’t need air conditioning when it’s cold outside.ĭuctless mini split heat pumps are especially affected by very low temperatures are extremely low. What outside temperature is too cold for an air conditioner? If the outdoor temperature is too low, the air conditioner will stop working effectively. Using an air conditioner sun shield (to shade the unit) is a very good idea when it’s extremely hot. We will start seeing these effects at 100☏ but they become significant (and troublesome) when outdoor temperatures reach 120☏ or more. The outside temperature affects the air conditioner the most when: This is the optimum temperature for most AC units. Most energy efficiency metrics like EER and SEER rating are measured at an outdoor temperature of 95☏. What happens if the temperature falls below 14☏ or, even more troublesome, rise above 115☏? Summer heat affects the air conditioners the most. It is generally cited that air conditioners can work at outdoor temperatures between 14☏ and 115☏. How the outdoor temperature affects the AC unit, however, is another matter entirely. Of course, the outside temperature affects the air conditioner. Namely, does outside temperature affect the air conditioner? A reasonable thing would be to look into the relationship between outside temperature and the AC unit.

Usually, they are needed most when it’s hottest outside. We use air conditioners to lower indoor temperatures.
