Extreme summer heat can push any air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Yukon climb, it’s common to notice higher energy bills, warm areas throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up.
It’s easy to assume the air conditioning is the only thing that affects 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 simple strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: improving airflow in your home, making sure your home has adequate insulation and creating shade to reduce heat from the sun. When you follow these summer AC tips from the pros at Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning, you’ll keep your house cool in even the hottest weather.
Start with Airflow: Improve Airflow for Better Cooling
AC units cool air and send it through ductwork to every room in your home. For that cooled air to cool every room effectively, it must be able to move freely throughout your house. Whenever airflow is restricted, some rooms may feel warmer than others.
Many homeowners blame their AC for a hot home. In many cases, the AC is often working properly—the real problem is poor airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all inhibit airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Strategies
Taking steps to improve airflow in your home can improve comfort, reduce strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Change dirty air filters. Consistent AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system move air more effectively while supporting indoor air quality.
- Ensure supply and return vents are clear. Furniture, rugs and curtains can cause blocked air vents that stop cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Openinterior doors. Doing so helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Reposition furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate properly.
- Arrange 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 serves as a barrier against the warm air outside your home. As your air conditioning removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. Better insulation increases comfort, reduces cooling run times and can help increase the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the primary sources of solar heat gain during summer. Proper attic insulation and cooling work together because attic insulation slows heat transfer through the roof. Sealing gaps 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 let warm air into your home, your AC has to work harder. This often causes homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Frequently, the real problem is inadequate insulation, and the AC is not the problem.
Signs of Inadequate Home Insulation Levels
- Warmsecond-floor rooms
- Inconsistent room temperatures
- Higher cooling costs
- Air conditioner runningconstantly
Use Shade to Help Lower Cooling Costs
Sunlight shining through windows and warming your roof and exterior walls raises indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also reduce the efficiency of your outdoor cooling unit by making it harder to release heat efficiently. Creating 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 block airflow around the condenser. Don’t install fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that restrict air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips for Using Shade to Cool Your Home
- Plant trees and landscaping strategically. Position trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor cooling equipment. If you’re shading your outdoor AC unit, keep at least 2–3 feet of clearance on all sides and 5 feet above the unit to ensure it receives enough airflow.
- Use window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from sunlight shining through windows.
- Install 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.
- Strategically use exterior shading. Use 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 help reduce indoor temperatures and reduce the load on your air conditioner.
Additional Hot Weather Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade can make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can help improve comfort during extreme summer heat.
- Settheappropriate ceiling fan direction. Run 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 reduce indoor heat.
- Set thermostat settings. Avoid frequent temperature changes that force your AC to work harder.
- Book preventative maintenance. Professional service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Monitor unusual system performance. Call a professional to investigate strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more extensive repairs.
Know When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional
At-home AC maintenance and efficiency-focused cooling strategies can help, but some problems require professional attention. If warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioning 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 Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning, our cooling specialists evaluate airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to identify the underlying cause to help your HVAC system run at its best throughout the summer.
Stay Comfortable All Summer Long
Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave requires more than just your AC. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and effective shade work together to increase 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 expertise 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 home still hot even when the AC is operating?
If your living space remains hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the air conditioner. Limited airflow, too little insulation, inefficient thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can each reduce cooling performance and stop cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help cut cooling costs?
It can. 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 air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That uses less energy, which can lower your cooling expenses.
How often should I replace my HVAC air filter throughout the cooling season?
For most homes, homeowners should check their air filter every month during the busiest 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?
It can. Proper home insulation reduces heat transfer into your home, reducing the workload on your air conditioner. Ensuring your home has proper insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps maintain more consistent indoor temperatures while reducing energy.
Should I cover my outdoor AC unit to keep it cooler?
Not while it’s running. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s running because the condenser needs unobstructed airflow to release heat. Providing shade for your outdoor AC unit is beneficial, but always keep at least 2–3 feet of clearance around the unit and 5 feet above it to maintain proper airflow.
What temperature should I set my thermostat at when it’s hot outside?
For many homes, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers a good balance of comfort and energy efficiency during hot summer weather. Choose the highest temperature that keeps your family comfortable, and don’t make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioner to work harder.
