Extreme summer heat can push your air conditioner to the breaking point. As temperatures in Beaverton continue to increase, it’s common to notice rising energy bills, uneven temperatures throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up.
You may think the air conditioning 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 explains three practical strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: improving airflow in your home, making sure your home has adequate insulation and using shade to reduce heat from the sun. When you follow these summer AC tips from the pros at All Solutions Heating & Cooling, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter
Air conditioners cool air and move it through ductwork to the rooms in your home. For that conditioned air to keep your home comfortable, it must move freely throughout the house. If airflow is restricted, some rooms may stay warm.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their air conditioning system for a hot home. The truth is, the AC is often working properly—the real problem is restricted airflow. A dirty air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all inhibit airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Strategies
Taking these easy steps to boost airflow in your home can increase comfort, lower strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Routine AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system move air more effectively 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 helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Reposition furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are uncovered allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Schedule preventiveAC maintenance services. During a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can inspect and clean dust-covered blower components that may reduce your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Insulation serves as a barrier against the warm air outside your home. While your AC removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. Proper insulation increases comfort, reduces cooling run times and can help increase the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the biggest sources of unwanted heat gain during hot weather. Proper attic insulation and cooling are closely connected because attic insulation slows heat transfer through the roof. Sealing gaps and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from sneaking 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?” In many cases, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem.
Signs of Inadequate Home Insulation Levels
- Hot upstairsrooms
- Inconsistent room temperatures
- Higher cooling costs
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler
Sunlight shining through windows and heating up 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 air conditioning unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Using shade around your property can limit 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. Avoid fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that restrict air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade
- Add trees and landscaping strategically. Place trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor cooling 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.
- Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from sun streaming 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 providing 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 so it can’t heat up your home.
- Lower blinds in the afternoon heat. 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 conditioner.
Additional Heat-Wave 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.
- Change ceiling fan direction. Rotate ceiling fans counterclockwise to create 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 limit indoor heat.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Trytoavoid frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Schedule preventative maintenance. Professional 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.
Recognize When It’s Time to Contact an HVAC Professional
Basic AC maintenance and energy-saving cooling strategies can help, but some problems call for professional attention. When 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 All Solutions Heating & Cooling, our cooling specialists inspect airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to determine the real cause to help your HVAC system operate at its best throughout the summer.
Stay Comfortable All Summer Long
Keeping your home cool during a heat wave involves more than just your air conditioner. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and strategic shade work together to increase comfort, improve efficiency and decrease 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 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, 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 AC is operating?
If your home is hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your air conditioner. Restricted airflow, too little insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all affect cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help lower cooling costs?
Absolutely. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings block solar heat gain, helping your home remain cooler. Reducing the amount of heat entering your home means your cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That saves energy, which helps decrease your cooling expenses.
How often should I check and replace my HVAC air filter during summer?
Most homeowners should check their air filter every month during the busiest cooling season and replace it as necessary. Your recommended 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 perform better?
It can. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your air conditioning. Verifying 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 put a cover over 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 unobstructed airflow to release heat. Adding shade for your outdoor air conditioning unit is helpful, but always make sure there’s 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 many homes, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers the right balance of comfort and energy efficiency during a heat wave. Use the highest temperature that keeps your family comfortable, and try not to make large thermostat adjustments that force your AC to work harder.
