Hot summer weather can push even a well-maintained air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Erie rise, 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 conditioner 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 improve 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 Patterson & Stirling, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter
AC units cool the air and distribute it through ductwork to rooms in your home. For that conditioned air to keep your home comfortable, it must move freely throughout the home. If airflow is restricted, some rooms may feel warmer than others.
Many people blame their air conditioning system for an uncomfortably hot home. In many cases, the AC is often working properly—the real problem is restricted airflow. A dirty air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all prevent good airflow.
Home Airflow Improvement Tips
Following these simple steps to boost airflow in your home can enhance comfort, lower strain on your AC and lower energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system move air more effectively while helping improve indoor air quality.
- Ensure supply and return vents are clear. Furniture, rugs and curtains can lead to blocked air vents that keep cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Keep interior doors open. 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.
- Book preventiveAC maintenance services. During a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can check and clean dust-covered 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 the warm air outside your home. Although your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. Better insulation improves comfort, reduces cooling run times and can help extend 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 reduces heat transfer through the roof. Weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from entering your home.
Whenever insulation levels are too low or air leaks are present, your air conditioning has to work harder. This often causes homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Frequently, home insulation levels—not the air conditioner—are the problem.
Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels
- Warmsecond-floor rooms
- Inconsistent room temperatures
- Risingenergy bills
- An air conditioner that rarely shuts off
Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler
Sunlight streaming through windows and heating your roof and exterior walls raises indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also impact your outdoor cooling unit by making it harder to release heat efficiently. Using shade around your property can limit solar heat gain, improve comfort and decrease summer energy bills. Shading your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never obstruct 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
- Add 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 maintain enough airflow.
- Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes reduce heat gain from sun streaming through windows.
- Add solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, placed on sun-facing windows help reduce the sun’s heat while still providing natural light.
- 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 before it enters your home.
- Lower blinds in the afternoon heat. Maintain 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 conditioning system.
Additional Summer Heat Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can further improve comfort during extreme summer heat.
- Adjust ceiling fan direction. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to produce a cooling breeze.
- Avoid heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Use ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to helpreduce indoor heat.
- Manage thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Book preventative maintenance. Regular service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Pay attention to 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 Contact an HVAC Professional
Basic AC maintenance and energy-saving cooling strategies can help, but some problems call for 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, you should consider an expert evaluation.
At Patterson & Stirling, our cooling specialists inspect airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to pinpoint 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 requires more than just your air conditioner. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and well-planned shade work together to improve comfort, improve efficiency and decrease cooling costs. When paired with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system perform at its best when you need it most.
has the expertise and experience to keep you comfortable all season long. 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 AC Performance
Why is my house still warm even when the AC is on?
If your living space remains hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the air conditioner. Poor airflow, too little insulation, incorrect thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all affect cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help cut cooling costs?
Yes. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings reduce solar heat gain, helping your home remain cooler. When less heat enters your home means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That saves energy, which helps decrease 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 peak cooling season and replace it as necessary. The best air filter replacement schedule depends on the air filter you use, pets, allergies and how frequently 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 AC. Ensuring your home has proper insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps keep more consistent indoor temperatures while lowering energy.
Should I cover 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 unobstructed airflow to release heat. Providing shade for your outdoor air conditioning unit is a good idea, but always keep at least 2–3 feet of clearance around the unit and 5 feet above it to allow proper airflow.
What temperature should I set my thermostat at in the summer?
For most homeowners, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers the right balance of comfort and energy efficiency during a heat wave. Use the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and avoid large thermostat adjustments that force your AC to work harder.
