Extreme summer heat can push even a well-maintained air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Pocatello rise, it’s common to notice increased energy bills, warm areas throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up.
You may think the air conditioner is the one thing that determines how comfortable your home feels. The fact is, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play a major role in cooling performance.
This guide covers three simple strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: boosting airflow in your home, making sure your home has enough insulation and creating shade to reduce heat from the sun. Using these summer AC tips from the pros at Vogts Heating & Air, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter
Air conditioners cool air and distribute it through ductwork to every room in your home. For that conditioned air to make rooms comfortable, it has to move freely throughout the house. When airflow is blocked, some rooms may stay warm.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their air conditioner for an uncomfortably hot home. The truth is, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is limited airflow. Dirty air filters, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all prevent good airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Checklist
Taking steps to improve airflow in your home can increase comfort, lower strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Change dirty air filters. Routine AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system circulate air more efficiently while supporting indoor air quality.
- Makesure supply and return vents are free from obstructions. Furniture, rugs and curtains can cause blocked air vents that stop cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Open up doors in unused rooms. This 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. During a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can inspect and clean dust-covered blower components that may affect your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Is More Important Than You Might Expect
Insulation provides a barrier against the warm air outside your home. While 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 maximize the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the largest sources of solar heat gain during hot weather. Proper attic insulation and cooling go hand in hand because attic insulation limits heat transfer through the roof. Weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help prevent hot outdoor air from entering your home.
Whenever insulation levels are too low or air leaks let warm air into your home, your air conditioner has to work harder. This often causes homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” In many cases, home insulation levels—not the air conditioner—are the problem.
Signs of Poor Home Insulation Levels
- Upper floor rooms are always hot
- Hotand cold spots
- Higher cooling costs
- An air conditioner that rarely shuts off
Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler
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 AC unit by reducing its ability 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 limit 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 air conditioning equipment. If you’re shading 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.
- Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from direct sunlight coming through windows.
- Install solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, used on sun-facing windows help reduce the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light.
- Incorporate exterior shading. Use landscaping and design features such as awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to stop direct sunlight off windows so it doesn’t heat up your home.
- Keep blinds closed during high heat. Shut 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 air conditioner.
Additional Summer Heat 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 provide a cooling breeze.
- Reduceuse of heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Run ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to reduce indoor heat.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that force your AC to work harder.
- Book preventative maintenance. Professional 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 more extensive repairs.
The Importance of Knowing When It’s Time to Call an HVAC Professional
At-home AC maintenance and energy-efficient cooling strategies can help, but some problems require professional attention. If you notice warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioning runs almost 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 Vogts Heating & Air, our cooling specialists assess airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to identify the actual cause to help your HVAC system operate at its best throughout the summer.
Keep Your Cool All Summer Long
Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave requires more than just your AC. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and well-planned shade work together to improve comfort, boost efficiency and decrease cooling costs. Combined with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system perform at its best when you need it most.
has the training and experience to keep you comfortable in even the hottest weather. Whether you need 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 uncomfortable even when the air conditioning is running?
If your home is hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the AC. Limited airflow, inadequate insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all affect cooling performance and stop cool air from reaching every room.
Does adding shade really help reduce cooling costs?
It can. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings help reduce solar heat gain, helping your home stay cooler. Reducing the amount of heat entering your home means your AC 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 during summer?
Most 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 perform better?
It can. Proper home insulation slows heat transfer into your home, reducing the workload on your air conditioner. Verifying 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 put a cover over my outdoor AC unit to help it run better?
No. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s operating because the condenser needs open airflow to release heat. Creating 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 provide proper airflow.
What temperature should I adjust my thermostat to when it’s hot outside?
For many homes, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers the right balance of comfort and energy efficiency during hot summer weather. Choose the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and don’t make large thermostat adjustments that force your AC to work harder.