Hot summer weather can push your air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Auburn rise, many homeowners notice higher energy bills, uneven temperatures throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up.
It’s easy to assume the AC is the one thing that determines how comfortable your home feels. The fact is, your home’s airflow, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.
This guide explains three practical strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: increasing airflow in your home, making sure your home has proper insulation and creating shade to reduce heat from the sun. Using these summer AC tips from the pros at Forster Heating, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Improve Airflow for Better Cooling
Air conditioners cool air and send it through ductwork to the rooms in your home. For that cool air to cool every room effectively, it must be able to move freely throughout your home. When airflow is blocked, some rooms may stay warm.
Many people blame their air conditioning system for an uncomfortably hot home. The truth is, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is poor airflow. A dirty air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all reduce airflow.
Home Airflow Improvement Checklist
Taking steps to improve airflow in your home can enhance comfort, lower strain on your AC and lower energy costs.
- Replace dirty air filters. Consistent AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while helping improve indoor air quality.
- Makesure supply and return vents are unblocked. Furniture, rugs and curtains can lead to 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.
- Relocate furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Schedule preventiveAC maintenance services. As part of a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can check and clean dirty blower components that may affect your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Insulation provides a barrier against hot outdoor air. As your air conditioning removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps prevent outdoor heat from entering. High-quality insulation enhances comfort, decreases 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 heatwaves. Proper attic insulation and cooling go hand in hand because attic insulation slows heat transfer through the roof. Sealing gaps and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from getting inside.
Whenever insulation levels are too low or air leaks let warm air into your home, your air conditioning has to work harder. This often causes homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Frequently, home insulation levels—not the air conditioner—are the problem.
Signs of Inadequate Home Insulation Levels
- Hot upstairsrooms
- Hotand cold spots
- High utilitybills
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Reduce Heat Gain
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 impact your outdoor cooling unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Adding shade around your property can limit solar heat gain, improve comfort and reduce 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. Don’t install fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that block air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade
- 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, keep 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 sunlight shining through windows.
- Add solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, placed on sun-facing windows help limit the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light.
- Strategically use exterior shading. Add landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to stop direct sunlight off windows before it enters your home.
- Close your blinds during the afternoon. Leave blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to reduce indoor temperatures and ease the load on your cooling system.
Additional Hot Weather Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade can make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can also increase comfort during intense summer heat.
- Change ceiling fan direction. Rotate ceiling fans counterclockwise to create 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.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Schedule 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 expensive repairs.
Recognize When It’s Time to Contact an HVAC Professional
DIY AC maintenance and energy-saving cooling strategies can help, but some problems need professional attention. If you notice warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your AC seems to run 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 Forster Heating, our cooling specialists inspect airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to pinpoint the underlying cause to help your HVAC system operate at its best throughout the summer.
Stay Comfortable All Summer Long
Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave requires more than just your air conditioning. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and well-planned shade work together to improve comfort, boost efficiency and decrease cooling costs. Combined with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system perform at its best when you need it most.
has the training and experience to keep you comfortable all season long. 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 Cooling Your Home in Summer
Why is my house still uncomfortable even when the AC is running?
If your living space remains hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your AC. Limited airflow, inadequate insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can each reduce cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help reduce cooling costs?
Yes. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings block solar heat gain, helping your home feel cooler. When less heat enters your home means your cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. This reduces energy, which helps reduce your cooling expenses.
How often should I replace my HVAC air filter throughout the cooling season?
Most households 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 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 reduces heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your air conditioner. Verifying your home has appropriate insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps maintain more consistent indoor temperatures while reducing energy.
Should I cover up my outdoor AC unit to keep it cooler?
No. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s running because the condenser needs open airflow to release heat. Providing 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 allow proper airflow.
What temperature should I set 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 a heat wave. Choose the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and don’t make large thermostat adjustments that force your AC to work harder.
