Tips for cooling your home during a heat wave
We’ve been having some wicked heat and humidity already this summer, and it’s only going to get hotter until Fall. We’ve put together some tips to help keep your house cool and your HVAC systems running efficiently through the rest of the summer.
Set Your Thermostat Higher (Between 75 to 78 Degrees)
No one wants to hear this, especially when it’s 90° and higher outside. However, your AC can only lower the temperature in your home to a maximum of 20° from the outside temperature, so keeping your thermostat set within that range will help slow down heat gain in the house.
This will also help your HVAC systems run more efficiently, as it won’t be working as hard to keep your house between 68-70 degrees.
Invest in a Programmable Thermostat and Set Fans to “On” Instead of “Auto”
Your thermostat is a good indicator of how efficiently your system is running. Using a programmable thermostat allows you to control the temperature of your home when you’re away, which can help save you money.
Turning the AC fan to “On” instead of “Auto” will help circulate the air in your home and cool it down, and is especially helpful for two-story homes.
Use Fans to Cool Down
Ceiling fans and floor fans help circulate the air and keep us feeling cooler when it’s hot out. They do not actually cool down the room (they help us feel cool), so be sure to conserve energy and only turn the fan on in an occupied room.
Close Drapes, Blinds, Shutters, Etc.
It might make your house seem a little dark and cave-like, especially since we just came out of the colder months, but keeping windows covered on the sunny side of your house will keep your house cooler, especially during a heat wave.
Avoid Using Heat Generating Appliances on Extremely Hot Days
Who doesn’t love takeout? If you receive a Heat Advisory weather alert this summer, it’s probably best to avoid using the stove or oven during these days, as they (obviously) generate even more heat in your home for your AC to contend with.
If it is unavoidable to use the stove or oven, you may want to wait until later in the evening when it’s cooler or try grilling outside instead.
Change Your Air Filters and Check Outdoor Systems
If your Air Conditioner is not cooling your house, you may have a dirty or clogged air filter. Be sure to change or clean these every 2-3 months to keep your AC running efficiently.
We get some wild summer storms in Middle Tennessee, which can blow around tree branches and leaves, as well as other kinds of debris. No matter where you live, you should always check your outdoor systems for any blockages or build-up of debris and carefully clear it away.
Clean Air Ducts, Vents, & Registers
Keeping your vents, ducts, and registers clean makes sure that nothing is impacting the airflow from your air conditioner and also improves the overall efficiency of your system, as well as the quality of air in your home.
Schedule Preventative Maintenance
Your AC should run much smoother once these preventative and regular maintenance steps have been completed. However, it’s still recommended that you schedule maintenance on your HVAC systems twice yearly.
An HVAC technician will be able to check all the parts of your air conditioner and ensure they are all in good working order and hopefully catch any issues before they become a big expense.
With these tips in mind, we hope you stay cool this summer.
We have a couple of video tutorials to help you get started with HVAC repairs. If any of these videos helped you out, let us know!