Extreme summer heat can push even a well-maintained air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Des Moines rise, many homeowners notice increased energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up.
People often think the air conditioner is the only thing that affects how comfortable your home feels. However, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play a significant role in cooling performance.
This guide highlights three effective strategies that can enhance comfort and cooling efficiency: increasing airflow in your home, making sure your home has proper insulation and adding shade to reduce heat from the sun. When you follow these summer AC tips from the pros at Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling, you’ll keep your house cool in summer.
Start with Airflow: Improve Airflow for Better Cooling
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 be able to move freely throughout the home. When airflow is blocked, some rooms may stay warm.
Many people blame their AC for poor cooling performance. The truth is, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is poor airflow. A clogged air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all inhibit airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Tips
Taking steps to improve airflow in your home can improve comfort, minimize strain on your AC and lower energy costs.
- Swapout dirty air filters. Routine AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system circulate air more efficiently while supporting indoor air quality.
- Check that supply and return vents are free from obstructions. Furniture, rugs and curtains can cause blocked air vents that keep cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Keep interior doors open. This allows air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Move furniture covering registers.Keeping registers clear allows conditioned air to circulate properly.
- Arrange preventiveAC maintenance services. As part of a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can check and clean debris-covered blower components that may limit your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Plays a Bigger Role Than Many Homeowners Think
Insulation acts as a barrier against hot outdoor air. Although your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. Proper insulation increases comfort, lowers cooling run times and can help maximize the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the largest sources of unwanted heat gain during heatwaves. Proper attic insulation and cooling are closely connected because attic insulation reduces heat transfer through the roof. Weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help stop hot outdoor air from entering your home.
When 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?” Often, the real problem is inadequate insulation, and the AC is not the problem.
Signs of Poor Home Insulation Levels
- Hot upstairsrooms
- Hotand cold spots
- Risingenergy bills
- An air conditioner that rarely shuts off
Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler
Sunlight coming through windows and heating up your roof and exterior walls increases indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also affect your outdoor AC unit by making it harder to release heat efficiently. Adding shade around your property can reduce solar heat gain, improve comfort and lower summer energy bills. Putting in shade over your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never obstruct 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
- Plant trees and landscaping strategically. Position trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor cooling 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 ensure it receives enough airflow.
- Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes limit 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 limit the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light.
- Make use of outdoor shade. Add 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.
- 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 air conditioning system.
Additional Hot Weather Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade all make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can help improve comfort during extreme summer heat.
- Adjust ceiling fan direction. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze.
- Reduceuse of heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Use ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to limit indoor heat.
- Manage thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder.
- Arrange preventative maintenance. Professional service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
- Monitor unusual system performance. Call a professional to investigate strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become more extensive repairs.
The Importance of Knowing When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional
Basic AC maintenance and energy-efficient cooling strategies can help, but some problems call for professional attention. If you notice warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your AC seems to run constantly, energy bills increase for no reason, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s a good idea to schedule an expert evaluation.
At Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling, our cooling specialists inspect airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to pinpoint the real cause to help your HVAC system run at its best throughout the summer.
Keep Your Cool All Summer Long
Staying comfortably cool during a heat wave involves more than just your air conditioner. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and effective shade work together to improve 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 expertise 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.