Summer heat waves can push your air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Oxford climb, it’s common to notice higher energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that seem 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. In reality, your home’s airflow, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.
This guide covers 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 Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter
AC units cool air and move it through ductwork to the rooms in your home. For that conditioned air to keep your home comfortable, it must be able to move freely throughout the house. Whenever airflow is restricted, some rooms may not cool properly.
Many homeowners blame their air conditioner for a hot home. However, the AC is often working properly—the real problem is poor airflow. A dirty air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all inhibit airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Checklist
Following these simple steps to boost airflow in your home can improve comfort, reduce strain on your AC and lower energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while improving indoor air quality.
- Check that supply and return vents are free from obstructions. Furniture, rugs and curtains can create blocked air vents that prevent cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Keep interior doors open. Doing so 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.
- Schedule preventiveAC maintenance services. As part of a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can examine and clean debris-covered blower components that may limit your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Insulation serves as a barrier against hot outdoor air. As your AC removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. Proper insulation enhances comfort, reduces 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 heatwaves. Proper attic insulation and cooling are closely connected because attic insulation reduces heat transfer through the roof. Sealing gaps and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from getting inside.
If insulation levels are too low or air leaks let warm air into your home, your air conditioning has to work harder. As a result, many homeowners ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” In many cases, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem.
Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels
- Warmsecond-floor rooms
- Inconsistent room temperatures
- High utilitybills
- Air conditioner runningconstantly
Use Shade to Reduce Heat Gain
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 impact your outdoor AC unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Using 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. Keep away fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that limit air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips for Using Shade to Cool Your Home
- Plant trees and landscaping strategically. Place 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 maintain enough airflow.
- Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from sunlight shining through windows.
- Use 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. Add landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to stop direct sunlight off windows so it doesn’t heat up 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 lower indoor temperatures and lighten the load on your AC.
Additional Hot Weather Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade can make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can further improve comfort during periods of extreme summer heat.
- Adjust ceiling fan direction. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to provide a cooling breeze.
- Limit heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Run ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to limit indoor heat.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Trytoavoid frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Schedule preventative maintenance. Routine service helps your system perform efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Watchfor unusual system performance. Address strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become larger repairs.
The Importance of Knowing When It’s Time to Contact an HVAC Professional
Basic AC maintenance and energy-saving 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 suddenly increase, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s time for an expert evaluation.
At Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc, our cooling specialists assess airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to determine the real cause to help your HVAC system operate at its best throughout the summer.
Stay Comfortable 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 improve comfort, increase efficiency and decrease cooling costs. Along 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 all season long. If you’re looking for 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 Cooling Your Home in Summer
Why is my home still hot even when the air conditioner is on?
If your home is hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the AC. Poor airflow, inadequate insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and prevent cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help lower cooling costs?
Absolutely. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings block solar heat gain, helping your home feel cooler. Less heat entering your home means your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That saves energy, which can lower your cooling expenses.
How often should I check and replace my HVAC air filter throughout the cooling season?
For most homes, homeowners should check their air filter every month during peak cooling season and replace it as needed. Your recommended 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 work better?
Yes. 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 keep more consistent indoor temperatures while reducing energy.
Should I put a cover over my outdoor AC unit to help it run better?
Not while it’s running. You should never cover your outdoor air conditioning unit while it’s operating because the condenser needs unrestricted airflow to release heat. Creating 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 in the summer?
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 try not to make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioner to work harder.