Extreme summer heat can push your air conditioner to the breaking point. As temperatures in Alliance rise, many homeowners notice increased energy bills, uneven temperatures throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up.
You may think the AC alone determines how comfortable your home feels. In reality, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play a major role in cooling performance.
This guide highlights three effective strategies that can increase comfort and cooling efficiency: increasing 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 Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Improve Airflow for Better Cooling
AC units lower the temperature of air and distribute it through ductwork to every room in your home. For that cooled air to make rooms comfortable, it has to move freely throughout your home. Whenever airflow is blocked, some rooms may stay warm.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their air conditioning system for poor cooling performance. The truth is, the AC is often working properly—the real problem is restricted airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all reduce airflow.
Home Airflow Improvement Tips
Following these simple steps to boost airflow in your home can increase comfort, reduce strain on your AC and reduce energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Consistent AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system move air more effectively while improving indoor air quality.
- Check that supply and return vents are unblocked. 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 free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Arrange preventiveAC maintenance services. By doing a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can examine 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 the warm air outside your home. As your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. High-quality insulation improves comfort, decreases cooling run times and can help maximize the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the primary sources of unwanted heat gain during hot weather. Proper attic insulation and cooling work together because attic insulation reduces heat transfer through the roof. Proper weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from entering your home.
When insulation levels are too low or air leaks allow hot air to sneak inside, your air conditioning 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 Low Home Insulation Levels
- Upper floor rooms are always hot
- Uneventemperatures
- Risingenergy bills
- Air conditioner runningconstantly
Use Shade to Help Lower Cooling Costs
Sunlight coming through windows and warming your roof and exterior walls boosts 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. Adding shade around your property can limit solar heat gain, improve comfort and reduce summer energy bills. Shading your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never obstruct airflow around the condenser. Avoid 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. Place 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 maintain enough airflow.
- Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes limit heat gain from direct sunlight coming through windows.
- Install 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. Use landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to keep 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 Heat-Wave Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can also increase comfort during intense summer heat.
- Adjust ceiling fan direction. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze.
- Avoid heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Use ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to limit indoor heat.
- Set thermostat settings. Trytoavoid frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Arrange preventative maintenance. Professional service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Monitor unusual system performance. Address strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more expensive repairs.
Know When It’s Time to Call an HVAC Professional
DIY AC maintenance and energy-efficient cooling strategies can help, but some problems require professional attention. When warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioner runs almost 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 Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces, our cooling specialists assess airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to identify the underlying cause to help your HVAC system perform at its best throughout the summer.
Enjoy Reliable Cooling All Summer Long
Staying cool during a heat wave requires more than just your air conditioning. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and effective shade work together to improve comfort, boost efficiency and decrease cooling costs. When paired 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 in even the hottest weather. Whether you need 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 Summer AC Performance
Why is my home still uncomfortable even when the AC is running?
When your house stays hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the air conditioner. Poor airflow, too little insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does outdoor shade really help reduce cooling costs?
Yes. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings reduce solar heat gain, helping your home feel cooler. Reducing the amount of heat entering your home means your cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. This reduces energy, which helps decrease your cooling expenses.
How often should I replace my HVAC air filter during summer?
Most homeowners should check their air filter every month during the peak cooling season and replace it as necessary. The best 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 work better?
Absolutely. Proper home insulation slows heat transfer into your home, reducing the workload on your air conditioner. Making sure your home has appropriate 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 during hot weather?
No. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s operating because the condenser needs unobstructed airflow to release heat. Creating shade for your outdoor AC 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 provide proper airflow.
What temperature should I keep my thermostat at during hot weather?
For most homeowners, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers the right balance of comfort and energy efficiency during very hot weather. Use the highest temperature that keeps your family comfortable, and try not to make large thermostat adjustments that force your AC to work harder.