Extreme summer heat can push any air conditioner to the breaking point. As temperatures in Wilkes Barre and Scranton continue to increase, it’s common to notice rising energy bills, uneven temperatures 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. In reality, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play a major role in cooling performance.
This guide highlights three practical strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: boosting airflow in your home, making sure your home has adequate insulation and creating shade to reduce heat from the sun. Using these summer AC tips from the pros at GLR Mechanical, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves.
Start with Airflow: Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently
AC units lower the temperature of air and move it through ductwork to the rooms in your home. For that conditioned air to cool every room effectively, it has to move freely throughout your home. If airflow is blocked, some rooms may feel warmer than others.
It’s common for homeowners to blame their air conditioner for a hot home. The truth is, the AC is often working just fine—the real problem is restricted airflow. A dirty air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all limit airflow.
Home Airflow Optimization Tips
Following these simple steps to improve airflow in your home can enhance comfort, minimize strain on your AC and decrease energy costs.
- Change dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while helping improve indoor air quality.
- Makesure supply and return vents are unblocked. Furniture, rugs and curtains can cause blocked air vents that stop cooled air from circulating throughout your home.
- Keep interior doors open. This allows air to move more evenly between rooms.
- Reposition furniture covering registers.Keeping registers clear allows conditioned air to circulate freely.
- Book preventiveAC maintenance services. By doing a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can examine 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 serves as a barrier against outdoor heat. As your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. Better 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 hot weather. Proper attic insulation and cooling go hand in hand because attic insulation limits heat transfer through the roof. Sealing gaps and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from sneaking inside.
If 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
- Hot upstairsrooms
- Uneventemperatures
- Higher cooling costs
- Air conditioner runningconstantly
Use Shade to Help Lower Cooling Costs
Sunlight streaming through windows and heating up your roof and exterior walls increases indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder.
Direct sunlight can also impact your outdoor AC unit by making it more difficult to release heat efficiently. Creating shade around your property can reduce 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. Avoid fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that limit air movement.
5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade
- Plant trees and landscaping strategically. Position trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor cooling equipment. While providing shade for your outdoor AC unit, keep 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 sunlight shining through windows.
- Install 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 allowing in natural light.
- Make use of exterior shading. Add landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to block direct sunlight off windows so it can’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 lower indoor temperatures and ease the load on your air conditioning system.
Additional Summer Heat Survival Tips
Airflow, insulation and shade can make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can further improve comfort during extreme 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. Run ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to helpreduce indoor heat.
- Set thermostat settings. Avoid frequent temperature changes that cause your AC to work harder.
- Book preventative maintenance. Routine 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 expensive repairs.
The Importance of Knowing When It’s Time to Call an HVAC Professional
At-home AC maintenance and energy-saving 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 seems to run constantly, energy bills suddenly increase, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s a good idea to schedule an expert evaluation.
At GLR Mechanical, our cooling specialists assess airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to identify the real cause to help your HVAC system perform at its best throughout the summer.
Enjoy Reliable Cooling 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, increase efficiency and lower cooling costs. Along 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 no matter how hot it gets outside. If you’re looking for 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 Cooling Your Home in Summer
Why is my home still uncomfortable even when the AC is on?
If your living space remains hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always your air conditioner. Restricted airflow, inadequate insulation, improper thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and prevent cool air from reaching every room.
Does outdoor shade really help lower cooling costs?
It can. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings block solar heat gain, helping your home feel cooler. Reducing the amount of heat entering your home means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. This reduces energy, which helps decrease your cooling expenses.
How often should I check and replace my HVAC air filter during summer?
For most homes, homeowners should check their air filter every month during peak cooling season and replace it as necessary. The ideal 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 perform better?
Absolutely. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing the workload on your air conditioner. Verifying your home has proper insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps keep more consistent indoor temperatures while lowering energy.
Should I put a cover over my outdoor AC unit to help it run better?
No. You should never cover your outdoor air conditioning unit while it’s operating because the condenser needs unrestricted airflow to release heat. Creating shade for your outdoor air conditioner unit is beneficial, but always maintain at least 2–3 feet of clearance around the unit and 5 feet above it to maintain proper airflow.
What temperature should I adjust my thermostat to in the summer?
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 avoid large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioning to work harder.