Extreme summer heat can push even a well-maintained air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Chadron continue to increase, many homeowners notice rising energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that seem to run all day without keeping up.
You may think the AC is the one thing that determines how comfortable your home feels. The fact is, your home’s airflow, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.
This guide explains three practical strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: improving 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 MPC Heating & Cooling, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter
Air conditioners cool air and move it through ductwork to rooms in your home. For that cooled air to make rooms comfortable, it must be able to move freely throughout the home. Whenever airflow is blocked, some rooms may not cool properly.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their AC for a hot home. The truth is, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is limited airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all limit airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Checklist
Taking these easy steps to boost airflow in your home can increase comfort, minimize strain on your AC and reduce energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Consistent AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system move air more effectively while supporting indoor air quality.
- Check that supply and return vents are clear. Furniture, rugs and curtains can cause blocked air vents that prevent cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Open up doors in unused rooms. This helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Move furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are uncovered allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Book preventiveAC maintenance services. By doing a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can inspect and clean dirty blower components that may reduce 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 AC removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. High-quality insulation enhances comfort, decreases cooling run times and can help extend the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the primary sources of unwanted heat gain during hot weather. Proper attic insulation and cooling go hand in hand because attic insulation reduces heat transfer through the roof. Proper 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 are present, your air conditioner has to work harder. As a result, many homeowners ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” In many cases, the real problem is inadequate insulation, and the AC is not the problem.
Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels
- Warmsecond-floor rooms
- Uneventemperatures
- Higher cooling costs
- AnAC system that runs nonstop
Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler
Sunlight shining through windows and heating your roof and exterior walls increases indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also impact your outdoor cooling unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Adding shade around your property can limit solar heat gain, improve comfort and decrease summer energy bills. Putting in shade over your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never restrict airflow around the condenser. Don’t install fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that restrict air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips for Using Shade to Cool Your Home
- Add trees and landscaping strategically. Place trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor cooling 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 sun streaming through windows.
- Use 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 exterior shading. Add landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to keep direct sunlight off windows so it doesn’t heat up your home.
- 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 help reduce indoor temperatures and ease the load on your AC.
Additional Heat-Wave Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can help improve comfort during intense summer heat.
- Settheappropriate ceiling fan direction. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to provide a cooling breeze.
- Avoid heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Operate ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to helpreduce indoor heat.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that cause your AC to work harder.
- Book preventative maintenance. Professional service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Monitor unusual system performance. Take care of strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more extensive repairs.
Know When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional
DIY 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 conditioner seems to run 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 MPC Heating & Cooling, our cooling specialists evaluate airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to pinpoint the actual cause to help your HVAC system perform at its best throughout the summer.
Keep Your Cool All Summer Long
Staying cool during a heat wave involves more than just your air conditioning. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and effective shade work together to enhance comfort, boost efficiency and reduce cooling costs. When paired with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system run 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 AC Performance
Why is my home still hot 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. Poor airflow, inadequate insulation, inefficient thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can each reduce cooling performance and prevent cool air from reaching every room.
Does adding shade really help lower cooling costs?
Yes. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings help reduce solar heat gain, helping your home stay cooler. When less heat enters your home means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That uses less energy, which helps decrease your cooling expenses.
How often should I check and replace my HVAC air filter in the summer?
For most homes, homeowners should check their air filter every month during the peak cooling season and replace it as necessary. The best air filter replacement schedule depends on the filter type, pets, allergies and the amount of time 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. Making sure your home has proper insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps maintain more consistent indoor temperatures while lowering energy.
Should I put a cover over my outdoor AC unit to help it run better?
You shouldn’t. 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 air conditioning unit is a good idea, 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 during a heat wave?
For many homes, setting the thermostat around 78 degrees when you’re home offers the right balance of comfort and energy efficiency during very hot weather. Set the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and try not to make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioning to work harder.