Extreme summer heat can push any air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Columbia rise, it’s common to notice increased energy bills, warm areas throughout the home and cooling systems that appear 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. In reality, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.
This guide highlights three effective strategies that can increase comfort and cooling efficiency: increasing 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 Watts Electric & AC, you’ll keep your house cool in even the hottest weather.
Start with Airflow: Improve Airflow for Better Cooling
Air conditioners cool air and send it through ductwork to every room in your home. For that cooled air to keep your home comfortable, it must move freely throughout your house. If airflow is blocked, some rooms may feel warmer than others.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their AC for an uncomfortably hot home. The truth is, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is limited airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all limit airflow.
Home Airflow Improvement Checklist
Taking steps to boost airflow in your home can improve comfort, reduce strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Replace dirty air filters. Consistent AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while improving indoor air quality.
- Ensure supply and return vents are unblocked. 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 helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Reposition furniture covering registers.Keeping registers clear allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Arrange preventiveAC maintenance services. As part of a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can check and clean dust-covered blower components that may limit your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Insulation acts as a barrier against outdoor heat. As your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. High-quality insulation improves comfort, reduces cooling run times and can help increase the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the biggest 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. Proper weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help stop hot outdoor air from entering your home.
If insulation levels are too low or air leaks let warm air into your home, your AC has to work harder. As a result, many homeowners ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Frequently, the real problem is inadequate insulation, and the AC is not the problem.
Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels
- Warmsecond-floor rooms
- Uneventemperatures
- Higher cooling costs
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Help Lower Cooling Costs
Sunlight streaming through windows and heating your roof and exterior walls boosts indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also reduce the efficiency of your outdoor AC unit by making it more difficult to release heat efficiently. Creating shade around your property can limit 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 block airflow around the condenser. Avoid fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that block air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade
- Plant trees and landscaping strategically. Position 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 allow for enough airflow.
- Install window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from sun streaming through windows.
- Install solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, placed on sun-facing windows help reduce the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light.
- Incorporate outdoor shade. Add landscaping and design features such as awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to stop direct sunlight off windows before it enters your home.
- Close your blinds during the afternoon. Maintain 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 further improve comfort during periods of extreme summer heat.
- Adjust ceiling fan direction. Rotate ceiling fans counterclockwise to produce a cooling breeze.
- Avoid heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Use ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to helpreduce indoor heat.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Avoid frequent temperature changes that force your AC to work harder.
- Arrange preventative maintenance. Regular service helps your system perform efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Watchfor 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. If you notice warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioner runs almost constantly, energy bills spike, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s time for an expert evaluation.
At Watts Electric & AC, 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 operate at its best throughout the summer.
Keep Your Cool All Summer Long
Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave requires more than just your air conditioner. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and strategic shade work together to increase comfort, boost efficiency and reduce cooling costs. When paired 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 all season long. 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 Cooling Your Home in Summer
Why is my house still hot even when the air conditioning is running?
If your home is hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your AC. Poor airflow, inadequate insulation, incorrect thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and stop cool air from reaching every room.
Does outdoor shade really help cut cooling costs?
Yes. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings block solar heat gain, helping your home feel cooler. Reducing the amount of heat entering your home means your AC 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 replace my HVAC air filter throughout the cooling season?
Most homeowners 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 type of filter, pets, allergies and the amount of time your air conditioner runs.
Can insulation {help|make my air conditioner run more efficiently?
It can. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your air conditioning. Verifying your home has proper insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps create more consistent indoor temperatures while reducing energy.
Should I cover up my outdoor AC unit during hot weather?
Not while it’s running. 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 air conditioner unit is a good idea, but always keep at least 2–3 feet of clearance around the unit and 5 feet above it to provide proper airflow.
What temperature should I set my thermostat at during hot weather?
For many homes, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers a good balance of comfort and energy efficiency during a heat wave. Set the highest temperature that keeps your family comfortable, and try not to make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioning to work harder.