Summer heat waves can push even a well-maintained air conditioner to the breaking point. As temperatures in Marshalltown continue to increase, it’s common to notice increased energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that often 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 significant role in cooling performance.
This guide explains three simple strategies that can enhance comfort and cooling efficiency: improving airflow in your home, making sure your home has adequate insulation and adding shade to reduce heat from the sun. Using these summer AC tips from the pros at Kapaun & Brown, you’ll keep your house cool in summer.
Start with Airflow: Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently
Air conditioners cool the air and send it through ductwork to rooms in your home. For that conditioned air to keep your home comfortable, it must move freely throughout your home. Whenever airflow is restricted, some rooms may feel warmer than others.
Many homeowners blame their air conditioning system for a hot home. The truth is, the AC is often working just fine—the real problem is limited airflow. A dirty air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all prevent good airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Strategies
Taking steps to improve airflow in your home can increase comfort, lower strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Change dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system move air more effectively while improving indoor air quality.
- Check that supply and return vents are unblocked. Furniture, rugs and curtains can create blocked air vents that stop cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Openinterior doors. This allows air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Move furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate more easily.
- Schedule preventiveAC maintenance services. By doing a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can inspect and clean dust-covered blower components that may affect your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Plays a Bigger Role Than Many Homeowners Think
Insulation acts as a barrier against outdoor heat. While your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps prevent outdoor heat from entering. Better insulation increases comfort, lowers cooling run times and can help increase the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the largest sources of unwanted heat gain during heatwaves. Proper attic insulation and cooling work together because attic insulation limits heat transfer through the roof. Weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from sneaking inside.
If insulation levels are too low or air leaks are present, your air conditioning has to work harder. As a result, many homeowners ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Frequently, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem.
Signs of Poor Home Insulation Levels
- Warmsecond-floor rooms
- Inconsistent room temperatures
- High utilitybills
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler
Sunlight shining through windows and heating your roof and exterior walls raises indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also affect your outdoor cooling unit by making it more difficult to release heat efficiently. Creating shade around your property can minimize solar heat gain, improve comfort and reduce 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 for Using Shade to Cool Your Home
- Plan trees and landscaping strategically. Use 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 help reduce heat gain from sunlight shining through windows.
- Install solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, placed on sun-facing windows help block the sun’s heat while still providing natural light.
- Strategically use outdoor shade. Use landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to block direct sunlight off windows so it doesn’t heat up your home.
- Lower blinds in the afternoon heat. Shut 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 air conditioning system.
Additional Summer Heat Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade all make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can help improve comfort during intense 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. Operate ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to limit indoor heat.
- Set thermostat settings. Trytoavoid frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Schedule preventative maintenance. Regular service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Monitor unusual system performance. Address strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more extensive repairs.
Recognize When It’s Time to Call an HVAC Professional
At-home AC maintenance and energy-efficient cooling strategies can help, but some problems require professional attention. If you notice warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your AC runs almost constantly, energy bills spike, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s a good idea to schedule an expert evaluation.
At Kapaun & Brown, our cooling specialists evaluate airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to determine the actual cause to help your HVAC system perform 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, improve efficiency and reduce cooling costs. Along with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system operate at its best when you need it most.
has the expertise and experience to keep you comfortable no matter how hot it gets outside. If you’re in need of AC maintenance, a cooling system inspection, an airflow evaluation or a complete summer tune-up, our team can help boost efficiency and comfort during hot summers. Schedule cooling services online or call today to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Air Conditioner Efficiency
Why is my home still uncomfortable even when the air conditioning is running?
If your living space remains hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your air conditioner. Poor airflow, too little insulation, incorrect thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can each 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 block solar heat gain, helping your home stay cooler. When less heat enters 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 throughout the cooling season?
Most households should check their air filter every month during the peak cooling season and replace it as needed. The ideal air filter replacement schedule depends on the filter type, pets, allergies and how frequently your air conditioner runs.
Can insulation {help|make my air conditioner work better?
Yes. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing the workload on your air conditioning. Ensuring your home has adequate 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 to help it run better?
Not while it’s running. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s operating because the condenser needs unrestricted airflow to release heat. Creating shade for your outdoor AC unit is beneficial, but always make sure there’s 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 very hot weather. Use the highest temperature that keeps your family comfortable, and avoid large thermostat adjustments that force your AC to work harder.