Hot summer weather can push your air conditioner to the breaking point. As temperatures in Wausau continue to increase, many families notice higher energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up.
People often think the air conditioning is the only thing that affects how comfortable your home feels. However, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.
This guide explains three effective strategies that can increase comfort and cooling efficiency: increasing airflow in your home, making sure your home has adequate insulation and using shade to reduce heat from the sun. By following these summer AC tips from the pros at Gilray Heating and Cooling, you’ll keep your house cool in even the hottest weather.
Start with Airflow: Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently
Air conditioners cool the air and distribute it through ductwork to every room in your home. For that cool air to cool every room effectively, it must be able to move freely throughout your home. Whenever airflow is restricted, some rooms may not cool properly.
Many homeowners blame their air conditioner for an uncomfortably hot home. However, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is poor airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all reduce airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Tips
Taking steps to boost airflow in your home can improve comfort, reduce strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while improving indoor air quality.
- Check that supply and return vents are unblocked. Furniture, rugs and curtains can cause blocked air vents that stop cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Keep interior doors open. Doing so helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Reposition furniture covering registers.Keeping registers clear allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Schedule preventiveAC maintenance services. During a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can check and clean dust-covered blower components that may reduce your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Is More Important Than You Might Expect
Insulation provides a barrier against the warm air outside your home. Although 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 maximize the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the biggest sources of solar heat gain during summer. Proper attic insulation and cooling go hand in hand because attic insulation reduces heat transfer through the roof. Sealing gaps and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from entering your home.
If insulation levels are too low or air leaks are present, your AC has to work harder. As a result, many homeowners ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” In many cases, home insulation levels—not the air conditioner—are the problem.
Signs of Inadequate Home Insulation Levels
- Hot upstairsrooms
- Uneventemperatures
- Higher cooling costs
- Air conditioner runningconstantly
Use Shade to Help Lower Cooling Costs
Sunlight coming through windows and heating up your roof and exterior walls raises indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also impact your outdoor AC unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Creating shade around your property can minimize 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 obstruct airflow around the condenser. Keep away fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that restrict air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips for Keeping Your Home Cooler with Shade
- Add trees and landscaping strategically. Position 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 maintain enough airflow.
- Add 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 reduce the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light.
- Incorporate outdoor shade. 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. Maintain 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 AC.
Additional Hot Weather Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade all make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can further improve comfort during intense summer heat.
- Adjust 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 reduce indoor heat.
- Set thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that force your AC to work harder.
- Schedule preventative maintenance. Professional service helps your system perform efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Monitor unusual system performance. Call a professional to investigate strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become larger repairs.
Know When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional
Basic AC maintenance and energy-saving cooling strategies can help, but some problems need professional attention. If warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your AC seems to run constantly, energy bills suddenly increase, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s a good idea to schedule an expert evaluation.
At Gilray Heating and Cooling, our cooling specialists assess airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to identify the real cause to help your HVAC system run at its best throughout the summer.
Stay Comfortable All Summer Long
Staying cool during a heat wave requires more than just your AC. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and well-planned shade work together to increase comfort, boost 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 knowledge 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 hot even when the air conditioning is running?
When your house stays hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your air conditioner. Poor airflow, inadequate insulation, inefficient thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does outdoor shade really help cut cooling costs?
Yes. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings block solar heat gain, helping your home stay cooler. When less heat enters your home means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That uses less energy, which helps decrease your cooling expenses.
How often should I change my HVAC air filter in the summer?
Most homeowners should check their air filter every month during the busiest cooling season and replace it as necessary. The best air filter replacement schedule depends on the type of filter, 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 proper insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps keep more consistent indoor temperatures while reducing 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 a good idea, 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?
In many households, 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 don’t make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioner to work harder.