It is still fall and we’ve already had a couple of heat waves…and summer is usually worse! We wanted to put together a few tips and give you some information that would be helpful to keep you cool this summer.
According to many indicators analyzed by the U.S. Global Change Research program, current heat wave frequency and the lengths of recent heat waves have increased since the mid 1960’s. The average heat wave season is now 45 days longer than it was 50 years ago! But there are some ways to combat the heat during a heat waves this season!
The high temperatures reached during a heat wave are often a challenge for many air conditioning systems. So please do not be surprised if your AC unit never turns off on extremely hot days and the temperature inside your home starts to creep up beyond where you set your thermostat. This can be a normal occurrence and does not necessarily mean there is an issue. But do not worry, the air conditioner will eventually catch up in the evening or overnight when it is cooler outside.
Below we have some tips to help you cool your home more efficiently during a heat wave. Firstly, please make sure your air conditioner is functioning properly. Here are some quick problems to look for when checking over your system.
Why is my air conditioner not cooling my house?
Certain issues or problems can often prevent your air conditioning unit from properly cooling down your home on extremely hot days. These issues or problems may include:
1. A dirty air filter (good maintenance is always key)
2. A slow refrigerant leak (sometimes an easy fix)
3. A blocked condensing unit (a common problem at the shore)
4. Ducts leaking inside the home (efficiency loss is possible)
5. An undersized or older air conditioning unit (time to call us)
But there is also a possibility nothing is actually “wrong” with your air conditioning unit…properly cooling a home starts with the outside temperature!
How cool should I expect my home to get during a heat wave?
The greatest air conditioner in the world is only going to cool your home about 20 degrees cooler than the current outside temperature. Maybe a little more if you take the time to implement a few of these helpful tips for cooling your home on extremely hot days – like during a heat wave where temperatures exceed 90+ degrees! So, if you have your thermostat set to 72 degrees but it is 100 degrees outside do not expect your home to cool much below 80 degrees.
Here are 8 helpful tips to cool your home better during a heat wave!
Anything you can do to keep your home a little bit cooler on extremely hot days will mean your air conditioning system does not need to be running as long for each cooling cycle, which will save you money on cooling costs as well as conserve energy.
1. Set the thermostat higher
In extreme temperatures it is best not to turn up the AC to save a few dollars because it puts your AC unit in an uphill fight trying to cool down your home. Set your thermostat on 75-78 degrees (or higher) and be ok with a little heat for a little while.
2. Turn the fan switch to the ON position
Turning your fan switch to the ON position instead of leaving it on “auto” will help circulate the air in your home and help prevent rooms that are too hot or too cool. This approach will help somewhat with the temperature differences in 2 story homes. We have other installation solutions to fix this common problem if this technique does not help you.
3. Keep shades closed on extremely hot days
Did you ever wonder how people lived without air conditioning a 100+ years ago? They used the natural shade of trees and closed the curtains/shades to keep the home cooler. Keeping the shades closed on the sunny side of the house will assist in cooling the home on extremely hot days.
4. Close off unused rooms to conserve energy
If your entire home is not being occupied now, take a few minutes, and close the air vents inside the unused rooms or bathrooms. The doors should also be closed to these rooms to conserve energy and force the cool air to stay in the occupied areas of your home. This technique can sometimes lower the ambient temperature of your home a few degrees or more.
5. Consider using ceiling or floor fans to keep you cool
One of the biggest myths about ceiling fans are that they cool the air in a room. That is not necessarily true, but they do help to circulate air around the room. The ceiling fan typically cools the occupant, not the air. A ceiling fan (or floor fan) will dry up the perspiration on your skin and make you feel cooler…so your thermostat can be set higher, so your air conditioning system does not need to work as hard to cool your home or your family!
6. Do not use appliances on extremely hot days
Not using the stove, dishwasher or dryer on extremely hot days will help keep your home cooler by simply not introducing heat into an already warm environment. Isn’t summer a great time to use the grille and cook outdoors? Who does not love a good outdoor BBQ?! If you do need to use these appliances, try limiting their use to certain times of the day when the outside temperatures are cooler, and your AC unit is not working overtime to cool your home.
7. Properly maintain your air conditioning unit to maximize efficiency
A properly maintained air conditioning system will yield years of comfort in your home and should keep your utility bills lower. Taking the time to have your air conditioning unit service and tune-up yearly can save you money in costly repairs later down the road. This helps to potentially prevent needing to prematurely replace your unit on short notice due to ongoing neglected issues.
8. Consider upgrading your air conditioning system
When your car gets older and accumulates the miles, it loses power and efficiency over time. Just like your car, an older air conditioning system may not be able to properly cool your home as well as it did when it was first installed.
If your AC unit is older than 10 years old, you should think about saving to replacing it. Although an air conditioner can last up to 20 years in a normal environment, it loses about 40% of its efficiency after 10 years and the newer technology can also save you up to 20% on cooling costs when upgrading.
Quick Tip that you might need a new unit– If you look at your AC unit and the coils are powdery white or flaking off, it is time to budget for replacement. Many factors can cause a unit to fail earlier than expected. But making sure it is cleaned yearly and free of debris is a great way to prolong the life of your unit.