Extreme summer heat can push even a well-maintained air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Cache Valley continue to increase, many families notice higher energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that seem to run all day without keeping up.
You may think the air conditioning is the one thing that determines how comfortable your home feels. In reality, your home’s airflow, insulation and shade all play a major role in cooling performance.
This guide explains three practical strategies that can enhance comfort and cooling efficiency: improving airflow in your home, making sure your home has enough insulation and creating shade to reduce heat from the sun. When you follow these summer AC tips from the pros at Western Mechanical, Inc., you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently
AC units cool air and move it through ductwork to rooms in your home. For that cooled air to cool every room effectively, it has to move freely throughout your house. If airflow is restricted, some rooms may stay warm.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their air conditioner for a hot home. However, the AC is often working just fine—the real problem is restricted airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all limit airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Tips
Taking steps to improve airflow in your home can increase comfort, minimize strain on your AC and reduce energy costs.
- Change dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system circulate air more efficiently while helping improve indoor air quality.
- Makesure supply and return vents are free from obstructions. Furniture, rugs and curtains can cause blocked air vents that prevent cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Openinterior doors. This helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Relocate furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are uncovered allows conditioned air to circulate properly.
- Arrange preventiveAC maintenance services. By doing a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can inspect and clean dirty blower components that may reduce your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Is More Important Than You Might Expect
Insulation provides a barrier against the warm air outside your home. While your AC removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps stop heat from moving indoors. Proper insulation improves comfort, reduces cooling run times and can help extend the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the largest sources of solar heat gain during hot weather. Proper attic insulation and cooling work together because attic insulation slows heat transfer through the roof. Proper weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from entering your home.
When insulation levels are too low or air leaks allow hot air to sneak inside, your AC has to work harder. This often causes homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Frequently, home insulation levels—not the air conditioner—are the problem.
Signs of Inadequate Home Insulation Levels
- Hot upstairsrooms
- Hotand cold spots
- High utilitybills
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Reduce Heat Gain
Sunlight streaming through windows and heating your roof and exterior walls increases indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also affect your outdoor AC unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Creating shade around your property can minimize solar heat gain, improve comfort and lower summer energy bills. Putting in shade over your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never restrict airflow around the condenser. Keep away fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that restrict air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade
- Plant trees and landscaping strategically. Place trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor air conditioning equipment. When shading your outdoor AC unit, keep at least 2–3 feet of clearance on all sides and 5 feet above the unit to allow for enough airflow.
- Use window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from direct sunlight coming through windows.
- Install solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, used on sun-facing windows help block the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light.
- Incorporate outdoor shade. Add landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to stop direct sunlight off windows so it can’t heat up your home.
- Lower blinds in the afternoon heat. Maintain blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to lower indoor temperatures and ease the load on your cooling system.
Additional Hot Weather Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade all make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can also increase comfort during intense summer heat.
- Settheappropriate ceiling fan direction. Rotate ceiling fans counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze.
- Avoid heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Operate ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to reduce indoor heat.
- Manage thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Book preventative maintenance. Routine service helps your system operate efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Watchfor unusual system performance. Call a professional to investigate strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more expensive repairs.
Recognize When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional
Basic AC maintenance and energy-efficient cooling strategies can help, but some problems call for professional attention. If you notice warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioner runs almost constantly, energy bills suddenly increase, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s time for an expert evaluation.
At Western Mechanical, Inc., our cooling specialists inspect airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to identify the real cause to help your HVAC system perform at its best throughout the summer.
Stay Comfortable All Summer Long
Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave takes more than just your AC. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and strategic shade work together to improve comfort, improve efficiency and decrease cooling costs. When paired with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system operate at its best when you need it most.
has the knowledge and experience to keep you comfortable all season long. Whether you need AC maintenance, a cooling system inspection, an airflow evaluation or a complete summer tune-up, we’re here to help boost efficiency and comfort during hot summers. Schedule cooling services online or call today to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions About Summer AC Performance
Why is my home still warm even when the air conditioner is running?
If your living space remains hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the AC. Poor airflow, inadequate insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can each reduce cooling performance and stop cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help reduce cooling costs?
It can. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings reduce solar heat gain, helping your home remain cooler. Reducing the amount of heat entering your home means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That saves energy, which can lower your cooling expenses.
How often should I replace my HVAC air filter in the summer?
For most homes, homeowners should check their air filter every month during peak cooling season and replace it as necessary. Your recommended air filter replacement schedule depends on the air filter you use, pets, allergies and the amount of time your air conditioner runs.
Can insulation {help|make my air conditioner work better?
Absolutely. Proper home insulation slows heat transfer into your home, reducing the workload on your AC. Verifying your home has proper insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps create more consistent indoor temperatures while lowering energy.
Should I put a cover over my outdoor AC unit to help it run better?
No. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s running because the condenser needs unrestricted airflow to release heat. Adding shade for your outdoor AC unit is a good idea, but always keep at least 2–3 feet of clearance around the unit and 5 feet above it to allow proper airflow.
What temperature should I set my thermostat at during a heat wave?
In many households, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers an excellent balance of comfort and energy efficiency during hot summer weather. Set the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and don’t make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioning to work harder.