Extreme summer heat can push even a well-maintained air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Des Moines rise, many families notice higher energy bills, warm areas throughout the home and cooling systems that often 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 airflow, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.
This guide highlights three simple strategies that can increase comfort and cooling efficiency: increasing airflow in your home, making sure your home has enough 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 even the hottest weather.
Start with Airflow: Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently
AC units cool the air and distribute it through ductwork to the rooms in your home. For that cool air to cool every room effectively, it must be able to move freely throughout your home. Whenever airflow is blocked, some rooms may feel warmer than others.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their air conditioner for an uncomfortably hot home. However, the AC is often working properly—the real problem is restricted airflow. Dirty air filters, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all prevent good airflow.
Home Airflow Improvement Checklist
Taking these easy steps to improve airflow in your home can increase comfort, lower strain on your AC and lower energy costs.
- Replace dirty air filters. Routine AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while improving indoor air quality.
- Makesure supply and return vents are unblocked. Furniture, rugs and curtains can lead to blocked air vents that keep cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Open up doors in unused rooms. This helps air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Relocate furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate properly.
- Schedule preventiveAC maintenance services. During a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can inspect and clean dirty blower components that may affect your system’s ability to circulate air.
Insulation Matters More Than Most Homeowners Realize
Insulation acts as a barrier against hot outdoor air. As your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps prevent outdoor heat from entering. Better insulation increases comfort, decreases cooling run times and can help extend the life of your HVAC system.
The attic is one of the largest sources of unwanted heat gain during hot weather. 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 stop hot outdoor air from entering your home.
When insulation levels are too low or air leaks allow hot air to sneak inside, your air conditioning has to work harder. As a result, many homeowners ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Often, insufficient insulation—not the air conditioner—is the problem.
Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels
- Warmsecond-floor rooms
- Uneventemperatures
- High utilitybills
- 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 raises 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 reduce summer energy bills. Putting in shade over your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never obstruct airflow around the condenser. Avoid fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that restrict air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade
- Add trees and landscaping strategically. Use trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor cooling equipment. When shading your outdoor AC unit, keep at least 2–3 feet of clearance on all sides and 5 feet above the unit to maintain enough airflow.
- Install window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes help 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 limit the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light.
- Strategically use outdoor shade. Use landscaping and design features such as awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to keep direct sunlight off windows so it doesn’t heat up your home.
- Lower blinds in the afternoon heat. Shut blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to help reduce indoor temperatures and lighten the load on your air conditioner.
Additional Heat-Wave Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can further improve comfort during extreme summer heat.
- Change ceiling fan direction. Operate ceiling fans counterclockwise to produce a cooling breeze.
- Reduceuse of heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Operate ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to limit indoor heat.
- Adjust thermostat settings. Avoid frequent temperature changes that cause your AC to work harder.
- Arrange preventative maintenance. Professional service helps your system perform 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 expensive repairs.
Recognize When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional
DIY AC maintenance and efficiency-focused cooling strategies can help, but some problems call for professional attention. When warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioner runs almost 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 evaluate airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to determine the underlying cause to help your HVAC system perform at its best throughout the summer.
Stay Comfortable All Summer Long
Staying cool during a heat wave involves more than just your air conditioner. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and strategic shade work together to enhance comfort, boost efficiency and lower cooling costs. Along with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system operate at its best when you need it most.
has the knowledge and experience to keep you comfortable no matter how hot it gets outside. Whether you need AC maintenance, a cooling system inspection, an airflow evaluation or a complete summer tune-up, our team can 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 operating?
When your house stays hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the AC. Restricted airflow, too little insulation, inefficient thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can each reduce cooling performance and stop cool air from reaching every room.
Does shade really help reduce cooling costs?
Absolutely. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings reduce solar heat gain, helping your home stay cooler. Less 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 in the summer?
Most households should check their air filter every month during the peak cooling season and replace it as needed. The ideal air filter replacement schedule depends on the air filter you use, pets, allergies and how often your air conditioner runs.
Can insulation {help|make my air conditioner work better?
Yes. Proper home insulation reduces heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your AC. Ensuring your home has proper insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps create more consistent indoor temperatures while using less 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. Creating shade for your outdoor air conditioning 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 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 a heat wave. Choose the highest temperature that keeps you comfortable, and avoid large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioning to work harder.