Hot summer weather can push any air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Newark climb, it’s common to notice increased energy bills, uneven temperatures throughout the home and cooling systems that often run all day without keeping up. 

People often think the air conditioning is the only thing that affects how comfortable your home feels. In reality, your home’s airflow, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.  

This guide highlights three effective strategies that can increase comfort and cooling efficiency: boosting airflow in your home, making sure your home has enough insulation and using shade to reduce heat from the sun. When you follow these summer AC tips from the pros at Luikart Heating & Cooling, you’ll keep your house cool in summer. 

Start with Airflow: Improve Airflow for Better Cooling 

AC units lower the temperature of air and move it through ductwork to the rooms in your home. For that cool air to keep your home comfortable, it must be able to move freely throughout your home. If airflow is restricted, some rooms may stay warm. 

Many homeowners blame their air conditioning system for poor cooling performance. In many cases, the AC is often working just fine—the real problem is restricted airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all prevent good airflow. 

Home Airflow Improvement Strategies 

Taking steps to boost airflow in your home can improve comfort, lower strain on your AC and decrease energy costs. 

  • Replace dirty air filters. Consistent AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while improving indoor air quality. 
  • Makesure supply and return vents are free from obstructions. 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 allows air to move more evenly between rooms. 
  • Reposition furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are uncovered allows conditioned air to circulate properly. 
  • Book preventiveAC maintenance services. By doing 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 Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize 

Insulation acts as a barrier against hot outdoor air. Although your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps stop heat from moving indoors. Better insulation increases 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 go hand in hand because attic insulation slows heat transfer through the roof. Proper weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help stop hot outdoor air from sneaking inside. 

Whenever insulation levels are too low or air leaks allow hot air to sneak inside, your air conditioner has to work harder. This often causes homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Frequently, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem. 

Signs of Inadequate Home Insulation Levels 

  • Upper floor rooms are always hot 
  • Uneventemperatures 
  • Higher cooling costs 
  • An air conditioner that rarely shuts off 

Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler 

Sunlight streaming through windows and heating up 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 air conditioning unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Adding 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. Avoid fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that block air movement. 

5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade 

  1. Add trees and landscaping strategically. Place trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor air conditioning equipment. When shading 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. 
  2. Use window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from sunlight shining through windows. 
  3. 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 letting in natural light. 
  4. Make use of outdoor shade. 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. 
  5. Keep blinds closed during high heat. Leave blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to lower indoor temperatures and lighten the load on your AC. 

Additional Summer Heat Survival Tips 

Airflow, insulation and shade 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. 
  • Reduceuse of 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. Trytoavoid frequent temperature changes that force your AC to work harder. 
  • Book preventative maintenance. Routine service helps your system perform efficiently before peak cooling season.
  • Watchfor unusual system performance. Take care of strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more extensive repairs. 

The Importance of Knowing When It’s Time to Contact an HVAC Professional 

At-home AC maintenance and efficiency-focused cooling strategies can help, but some problems call for professional attention. If you notice warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your AC runs almost 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 Luikart Heating & Cooling, 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 run at its best throughout the summer. 

Keep Your Cool All Summer Long 

Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave requires more than just your air conditioner. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and strategic shade work together to increase comfort, improve efficiency and lower cooling costs. Along with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system operate at its best when you need it most. 

has the expertise and experience to keep you comfortable in even the hottest weather. If you’re looking for AC maintenance, a cooling system inspection, an airflow evaluation or a complete summer tune-up, we’re here to 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 

When your house stays hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your AC. Limited airflow, too little insulation, incorrect thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all affect cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.

It can. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings help 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.

Most homeowners should check their air filter every month during the peak cooling season and replace it as needed. Your recommended air filter replacement schedule depends on the type of filter, pets, allergies and how often your air conditioner runs.

It can. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your air conditioner. Ensuring your home has adequate insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps create more consistent indoor temperatures while lowering energy.

Not while it’s running. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s running because the condenser needs unrestricted 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.

For most homeowners, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers a good balance of comfort and energy efficiency during very hot weather. Set the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and don’t make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioner to work harder.