Hot summer weather can push any air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Newark rise, many families notice increased energy bills, hot spots 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. However, your home’s airflow, insulation and shade all play a significant role in cooling performance.
This guide highlights three effective strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: increasing airflow in your home, making sure your home has proper 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 during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently
Air conditioners lower the temperature of air and send it through ductwork to rooms in your home. For that cool air to make rooms comfortable, it has to move freely throughout your home. When airflow is blocked, some rooms may not cool properly.
Many people blame their air conditioner for poor cooling performance. In many cases, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is limited airflow. Dirty air filters, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all reduce airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Checklist
Following these simple steps to boost airflow in your home can improve comfort, minimize strain on your AC and reduce energy costs.
- Replace dirty air filters. Routine AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system move air more effectively while supporting indoor air quality.
- Ensure supply and return vents are free from obstructions. Furniture, rugs and curtains can lead to blocked air vents that keep cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Open up doors in unused rooms. This allows air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Relocate furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Arrange preventiveAC maintenance services. As part of a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can examine and clean dirty blower components that may affect your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Plays a Bigger Role Than Many Homeowners Think
Insulation acts as a barrier against outdoor heat. Although your air conditioning removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. Proper insulation enhances comfort, decreases cooling run times and can help extend the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the largest sources of unwanted 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 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. That often leads homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Frequently, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem.
Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels
- Upper floor rooms are always hot
- Inconsistent room temperatures
- Risingenergy bills
- Air conditioner runningconstantly
Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler
Sunlight shining 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. Creating shade around your property can limit solar heat gain, improve comfort and reduce 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 restrict air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade
- Plan trees and landscaping strategically. Use trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor air conditioning 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 allow for enough airflow.
- Use window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes limit heat gain from direct sunlight coming through windows.
- Use solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, placed on sun-facing windows help limit the sun’s heat while still providing natural light.
- Make use of outdoor shade. 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. Maintain blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to help reduce indoor temperatures and lighten the load on your air conditioner.
Additional Summer Heat Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade all make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can help improve comfort during periods of extreme summer heat.
- Settheappropriate ceiling fan direction. Run 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.
- Set thermostat settings. Avoid frequent temperature changes that cause your AC to work harder.
- Book preventative maintenance. Regular 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
At-home AC maintenance and energy-saving cooling strategies can help, but some problems need professional attention. When warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioning seems to run constantly, energy bills spike, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, you should consider an expert evaluation.
At Luikart Heating & Cooling, our cooling specialists evaluate airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to identify the actual cause to help your HVAC system run at its best throughout the summer.
Stay Comfortable All Summer Long
Staying cool during a heat wave takes more than just your AC. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and effective shade work together to increase comfort, boost efficiency and decrease cooling costs. Combined with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system run 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, 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 Air Conditioner Efficiency
Why is my house still hot even when the air conditioner is running?
If your living space remains hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the air conditioner. Poor airflow, inadequate insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can each reduce cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does outdoor shade really help reduce cooling costs?
It can. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings help reduce solar heat gain, helping your home stay 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 replace my HVAC air filter in the summer?
Most households should check their air filter every month during the peak cooling season and replace it as needed. The ideal air filter replacement schedule depends on the filter type, pets, allergies and how frequently 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 the workload on your AC. Verifying your home has appropriate insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps create more consistent indoor temperatures while using less energy.
Should I put a cover over my outdoor AC unit during hot weather?
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. Providing shade for your outdoor AC unit is helpful, but always maintain 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 when it’s hot outside?
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. Choose the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and avoid large thermostat adjustments that force your AC to work harder.