Hot summer weather can push even a well-maintained air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Jefferson continue to increase, many homeowners notice increased energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that seem to run all day without keeping up.
It’s easy to assume the air conditioner is the one thing that determines how comfortable your home feels. The fact is, your home’s airflow, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.
This guide covers three practical strategies that can increase comfort and cooling efficiency: boosting airflow in your home, making sure your home has proper insulation and using shade to reduce heat from the sun. Using these summer AC tips from the pros at Pratt Brothers, you’ll keep your house cool in even the hottest weather.
Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter
Air conditioners cool the air and send it through ductwork to rooms in your home. For that cool air to cool every room effectively, it must move freely throughout your house. When airflow is restricted, some rooms may not cool properly.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their AC for an uncomfortably hot home. In many cases, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is limited airflow. Dirty air filters, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all reduce airflow.
Home Airflow Improvement Strategies
Following these simple steps to boost airflow in your home can improve comfort, lower strain on your AC and lower energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while helping improve indoor air quality.
- Ensure supply and return vents are free from obstructions. Furniture, rugs and curtains can lead to blocked air vents that prevent cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Open up doors in unused rooms. This allows air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Reposition furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are uncovered allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Book preventiveAC maintenance services. By doing a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can examine and clean dirty blower components that may limit your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Insulation provides a barrier against hot outdoor air. Although your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps stop heat from moving indoors. Proper insulation enhances comfort, decreases cooling run times and can help maximize the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the largest sources of solar heat gain during heatwaves. Proper attic insulation and cooling go hand in hand because attic insulation reduces heat transfer through the roof. Sealing gaps and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from getting inside.
When insulation levels are too low or air leaks allow hot air to sneak inside, your air conditioning has to work harder. As a result, many homeowners ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Often, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem.
Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels
- Hot upstairsrooms
- Hotand cold spots
- Risingenergy bills
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler
Sunlight shining through windows and heating up your roof and exterior walls raises 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. Adding shade around your property can limit solar heat gain, improve comfort and decrease summer energy bills. Shading your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never block airflow around the condenser. Avoid fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that limit air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips for Using Shade to Cool Your Home
- Plan trees and landscaping strategically. Place trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor AC equipment. While providing shade for your outdoor AC unit, maintain at least 2–3 feet of clearance on all sides and 5 feet above the unit to maintain enough airflow.
- Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes limit heat gain from sun streaming through windows.
- Install solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, used on sun-facing windows help reduce the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light.
- Strategically use exterior shading. Use landscaping and design features such as awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to stop direct sunlight off windows so it can’t heat up your home.
- Close your blinds during the afternoon. Leave blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to reduce indoor temperatures and lighten the load on your air conditioning system.
Additional Summer Heat Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade all make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can also increase comfort during periods of extreme summer heat.
- Adjust ceiling fan direction. Operate ceiling fans counterclockwise to provide a cooling breeze.
- Limit 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. Avoid frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Arrange preventative maintenance. Professional service helps your system perform efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Pay attention to unusual system performance. Address strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more expensive repairs.
The Importance of Knowing When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional
DIY AC maintenance and energy-efficient cooling strategies can help, but some problems call for professional attention. When warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your AC seems to run constantly, energy bills increase for no reason, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s a good idea to schedule an expert evaluation.
At Pratt Brothers, our cooling specialists assess airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to determine the underlying cause to help your HVAC system run at its best throughout the summer.
Keep Your Cool All Summer Long
Keeping your home cool during a heat wave takes more than just your air conditioner. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and well-planned shade work together to improve comfort, increase efficiency and reduce cooling costs. Along with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system run at its best when you need it most.
has the training and experience to keep you comfortable in even the hottest weather. Whether you need AC maintenance, a cooling system inspection, an airflow evaluation or a complete summer tune-up, we’ll 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 uncomfortable even when the air conditioner is running?
If your home is hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your AC. Limited airflow, inadequate insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does outdoor shade really help reduce cooling costs?
Absolutely. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings help reduce solar heat gain, helping your home stay cooler. Less heat entering your home means your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That uses less energy, which helps reduce your cooling expenses.
How often should I change my HVAC air filter during summer?
Most households should check their air filter every month during the busiest cooling season and replace it as necessary. The best 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?
It can. Proper home insulation reduces heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your AC. Making sure your home has appropriate insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps maintain more consistent indoor temperatures while using less energy.
Should I cover up my outdoor AC unit to help it run better?
You shouldn’t. You should never cover your outdoor air conditioning unit while it’s running because the condenser needs open airflow to release heat. Adding shade for your outdoor air conditioner unit is helpful, 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 adjust my thermostat to when it’s hot outside?
In many households, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers an excellent balance of comfort and energy efficiency during a heat wave. Set the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and avoid large thermostat adjustments that force your AC to work harder.