Extreme summer heat can push any air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Phoenix rise, many families notice rising energy bills, warm areas throughout the home and cooling systems that often run all day without keeping up.
People often think the air conditioner is the only thing that affects how comfortable your home feels. The fact is, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.
This guide highlights three simple strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: improving airflow in your home, making sure your home has enough insulation and using shade to reduce heat from the sun. By following these summer AC tips from the pros at Integrity AC & Heating LLC, you’ll keep your house cool in summer.
Start with Airflow: Improve Airflow for Better Cooling
Air conditioners lower the temperature of air and move it through ductwork to rooms in your home. For that cool air to cool every room effectively, it has to move freely throughout the home. When airflow is blocked, some rooms may not cool properly.
Many homeowners blame their air conditioner for a hot home. The truth is, the AC is often working just fine—the real problem is limited airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all inhibit airflow.
Home Airflow Improvement Tips
Following these simple steps to improve airflow in your home can improve comfort, minimize strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Consistent AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system move air more effectively while improving indoor air quality.
- Ensure supply and return vents are unblocked. Furniture, rugs and curtains can create blocked air vents that stop cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Keep interior doors open. 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 freely.
- Book preventiveAC maintenance services. During 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 Is More Important Than You Might Expect
Insulation provides a barrier against outdoor heat. As your AC removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps stop heat from moving indoors. Better insulation improves comfort, decreases cooling run times and can help extend the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the primary sources of solar heat gain during heatwaves. Proper attic insulation and cooling are closely connected because attic insulation slows heat transfer through the roof. Proper weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help prevent hot outdoor air from getting inside.
When insulation levels are too low or air leaks allow hot air to sneak inside, your air conditioner has to work harder. This often causes homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” In many cases, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem.
Signs of Inadequate Home Insulation Levels
- Hot upstairsrooms
- Hotand cold spots
- Risingenergy bills
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Reduce Heat Gain
Sunlight coming through windows and warming your roof and exterior walls raises indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also impact your outdoor air conditioning unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Using shade around your property can reduce solar heat gain, improve comfort and lower summer energy bills. Using trees or other landscaping to shade your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never block airflow around the condenser. Keep away 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. Use trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor AC equipment. If you’re shading 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.
- Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from sunlight shining through windows.
- Install solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, used on sun-facing windows help limit 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 keep direct sunlight off windows before it enters your home.
- Lower blinds in the afternoon heat. Leave blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to reduce indoor temperatures and reduce the load on your air conditioning system.
Additional Heat-Wave Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade can make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can help improve comfort during periods of extreme summer heat.
- Change ceiling fan direction. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to provide a cooling breeze.
- Limit heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Run ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to helpreduce indoor heat.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Arrange preventative maintenance. Routine service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Watchfor unusual system performance. Address strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become larger repairs.
The Importance of Knowing When It’s Time to Turn to 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 air conditioning 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 Integrity AC & Heating LLC, our cooling specialists assess 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
Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave involves more than just your air conditioner. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and strategic shade work together to enhance comfort, increase efficiency and reduce cooling costs. Combined with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system operate at its best when you need it most.
has the training and experience to keep you comfortable all season long. If you’re looking for 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 Air Conditioner Efficiency
Why is my home still uncomfortable even when the air conditioner is running?
When your house stays hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the AC. Limited airflow, too little insulation, incorrect thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can each reduce cooling performance and prevent cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help reduce cooling costs?
It can. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings help reduce solar heat gain, helping your home feel cooler. When less heat enters your home means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. This reduces energy, which helps reduce your cooling expenses.
How often should I change my HVAC air filter in the summer?
For most homes, homeowners should check their air filter every month during the peak cooling season and replace it as needed. Your recommended air filter replacement schedule depends on the type of filter, pets, allergies and how often your air conditioner runs.
Can insulation {help|make my air conditioner perform better?
It can. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing the workload on your air conditioning. Making sure your home has adequate insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps maintain more consistent indoor temperatures while using less energy.
Should I cover my outdoor AC unit during hot weather?
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. Providing shade for your outdoor air conditioning unit is helpful, but always maintain at least 2–3 feet of clearance around the unit and 5 feet above it to maintain proper airflow.
What temperature should I keep my thermostat at during a heat wave?
For most homeowners, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers an excellent balance of comfort and energy efficiency during very hot weather. Set the highest temperature that keeps your family comfortable, and avoid large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioner to work harder.
