Summer heat waves can push your air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Newton rise, it’s common to notice increased energy bills, uneven temperatures throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up.
People often 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 adequate insulation and using shade to reduce heat from the sun. By following these summer AC tips from the pros at Brookwood Inc, you’ll keep your house cool in summer.
Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter
Air conditioners cool the air and send it through ductwork to the rooms in your home. For that cooled air to keep your home comfortable, it must be able to move freely throughout the house. When airflow is restricted, some rooms may not cool properly.
Many homeowners blame their air conditioner for poor cooling performance. However, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is limited airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all reduce airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Tips
Following these simple steps to improve airflow in your home can enhance comfort, minimize strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Routine AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while helping improve indoor air quality.
- Ensure supply and return vents are clear. Furniture, rugs and curtains can lead to blocked air vents that stop cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Keep interior doors open. This helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Move furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate properly.
- Book preventiveAC maintenance services. During a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can examine and clean dust-covered blower components that may limit your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Plays a Bigger Role Than Many Homeowners Think
Insulation acts as a barrier against the warm air outside your home. As your AC removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps stop heat from moving indoors. Better insulation improves comfort, decreases cooling run times and can help maximize the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the biggest sources of unwanted heat gain during summer. Proper attic insulation and cooling work together because attic insulation slows heat transfer through the roof. Weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help stop hot outdoor air from getting inside.
Whenever 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?” Frequently, home insulation levels—not the air conditioner—are the problem.
Signs of Inadequate Home Insulation Levels
- Upper floor rooms are always hot
- Hotand cold spots
- High utilitybills
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Help Lower Cooling Costs
Sunlight streaming through windows and warming your roof and exterior walls boosts indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also affect your outdoor cooling unit by making it more difficult to release heat efficiently. Adding 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 obstruct airflow around the condenser. Don’t install fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that block air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips for Using Shade to Cool Your Home
- Plan trees and landscaping strategically. Position trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor AC equipment. When 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 sun streaming through windows.
- Add solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, placed 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 block direct sunlight off windows so it doesn’t heat up your home.
- Lower blinds in the afternoon heat. 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 air conditioning system.
Additional Hot Weather 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.
- Settheappropriate ceiling fan direction. Rotate ceiling fans counterclockwise to produce 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.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that cause your AC to work harder.
- Schedule preventative maintenance. Regular service helps your system perform efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Watchfor unusual system performance. Call a professional to investigate strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become larger repairs.
Recognize When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional
DIY AC maintenance and energy-saving cooling strategies can help, but some problems call for professional attention. If warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioning runs almost constantly, energy bills spike, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, you should consider an expert evaluation.
At Brookwood Inc, our cooling specialists evaluate 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.
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 strategic shade work together to enhance comfort, increase efficiency and reduce 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 looking for 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 home still uncomfortable even when the air conditioner is operating?
When your house stays hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your air conditioner. Restricted airflow, too little insulation, inefficient thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does adding shade really help reduce cooling costs?
Absolutely. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings reduce solar heat gain, helping your home remain cooler. Less heat entering your home means your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That saves energy, which can lower your cooling expenses.
How often should I change my HVAC air filter in the 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 air filter you use, pets, allergies and the amount of time your air conditioner runs.
Can insulation {help|make my air conditioner run more efficiently?
Absolutely. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your air conditioning. Ensuring 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 cover my outdoor AC unit to keep it cooler?
You shouldn’t. 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 conditioner unit is a good idea, 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 keep my thermostat at during a heat wave?
In many households, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers a good balance of comfort and energy efficiency during very hot weather. Use the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and try not to make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioner to work harder.
