Hot summer weather can push any air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Marshalltown rise, many homeowners notice rising energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that often run all day without keeping up.
It’s easy to assume the air conditioner alone determines how comfortable your home feels. However, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play a major role in cooling performance.
This guide highlights three effective strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: improving airflow in your home, making sure your home has enough insulation and adding shade to reduce heat from the sun. Using these summer AC tips from the pros at B & G HVAC, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter
Air conditioners cool air and distribute it through ductwork to rooms in your home. For that cool air to make rooms comfortable, it must be able to move freely throughout the house. When airflow is restricted, some rooms may stay warm.
Many homeowners blame their AC for a hot home. In many cases, the AC is often working just fine—the real problem is restricted airflow. A dirty air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all inhibit airflow.
Home Airflow Improvement Checklist
Taking steps to boost airflow in your home can enhance comfort, minimize strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system circulate air more efficiently while helping improve indoor air quality.
- Check that supply and return vents are clear. Furniture, rugs and curtains can cause blocked air vents that keep cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Open up doors in unused rooms. Doing so helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Reposition furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate more easily.
- Arrange preventiveAC maintenance services. During 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 Is More Important Than You Might Expect
Insulation serves as a barrier against hot outdoor air. As your air conditioning removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps stop heat from moving indoors. High-quality insulation increases comfort, reduces cooling run times and can help increase 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 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 entering your home.
When insulation levels are too low or air leaks allow hot air to sneak inside, your air conditioner has to work harder. That often leads homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Often, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem.
Signs of Poor Home Insulation Levels
- Upper floor rooms are always hot
- Hotand cold spots
- Risingenergy bills
- An air conditioner that rarely shuts off
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 reduce the efficiency of your outdoor AC unit by making it harder to release heat efficiently. Using 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 restrict airflow around the condenser. Avoid fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that restrict air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade
- Plan trees and landscaping strategically. Position 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 ensure it receives enough airflow.
- Install window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from sunlight shining through windows.
- Add 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 exterior shading. 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. Shut blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to lower indoor temperatures and lighten the load on your air conditioner.
Additional Heat-Wave Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can help improve comfort during periods of extreme summer heat.
- Change ceiling fan direction. Rotate ceiling fans counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze.
- Reduceuse of heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Operate ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to helpreduce indoor heat.
- Manage thermostat settings. Trytoavoid frequent temperature changes that cause your AC to work harder.
- Book preventative maintenance. Regular service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Watchfor unusual system performance. Take care of strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more extensive repairs.
Recognize When It’s Time to Contact an HVAC Professional
DIY AC maintenance and efficiency-focused cooling strategies can help, but some problems require professional attention. If warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioner seems to run constantly, energy bills increase for no reason, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s time for an expert evaluation.
At B & G HVAC, our cooling specialists inspect airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to determine the underlying cause to help your HVAC system operate at its best throughout the summer.
Enjoy Reliable Cooling All Summer Long
Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave takes more than just your air conditioning. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and well-planned shade work together to enhance comfort, boost efficiency and lower 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 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, 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 AC Performance
Why is my house still uncomfortable even when the AC is on?
When your house stays hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your air conditioner. Poor airflow, inadequate insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help cut cooling costs?
It can. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings block solar heat gain, helping your home stay cooler. When less heat enters your home means your air conditioning 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 during summer?
Most households should check their air filter every month during peak cooling season and replace it as needed. The best air filter replacement schedule depends on the filter type, pets, allergies and the amount of time your air conditioner runs.
Can insulation {help|make my air conditioner work better?
Absolutely. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your air conditioner. Ensuring your home has adequate insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps keep more consistent indoor temperatures while using less energy.
Should I cover up my outdoor AC unit to keep it cooler?
Not while it’s running. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s operating because the condenser needs open airflow to release heat. Adding shade for your outdoor air conditioner unit is beneficial, but always maintain 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 in the summer?
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. Choose the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and avoid large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioner to work harder.
