Extreme summer heat can push any air conditioner to the edge. As temperatures in Ames and Ankeny continue to increase, it’s common to notice rising energy bills, hot spots throughout the home and cooling systems that appear to run all day without keeping up. 

People often think the air conditioning is the only thing that affects how comfortable your home feels. The fact is, your home’s airflow, insulation and shade all play a major role in cooling performance.  

This guide explains three practical strategies that can increase comfort and cooling efficiency: boosting airflow in your home, making sure your home has enough insulation and using shade to reduce heat from the sun. By following these summer AC tips from the pros at Haselhoff Air Solutions, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves. 

Start with Airflow: Help Your AC Work Smarter 

Air conditioners cool air and move it through ductwork to every room in your home. For that cooled air to make rooms comfortable, it must move freely throughout your home. Whenever airflow is blocked, some rooms may not cool properly. 

Many people blame their air conditioner for poor cooling performance. The truth is, the AC is often working fine—the real problem is restricted airflow. A dirty air filter, blocked vents and other HVAC issues can all reduce airflow. 

Home Airflow Improvement Strategies 

Taking these easy steps to boost airflow in your home can increase comfort, reduce strain on your AC and lower energy costs. 

  • Change dirty air filters. Consistent AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system circulate air more efficiently while improving indoor air quality. 
  • Check that supply and return vents are unblocked. Furniture, rugs and curtains can create blocked air vents that stop cooled air from circulating throughout your home. 
  • Open up doors in unused rooms. This helps air to move more evenly between rooms. 
  • Move furniture covering registers.Making sure registers are free of obstructions allows conditioned air to circulate freely. 
  • Arrange preventiveAC maintenance services. During a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can examine and clean dust-covered blower components that may limit your system’s ability to circulate air. 

Insulation Is More Important Than You Might Expect 

Insulation acts as a barrier against outdoor heat. As your air conditioning removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps keep that heat from getting inside. High-quality insulation improves comfort, decreases cooling run times and can help increase 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 getting inside. 

If insulation levels are too low or air leaks are present, your AC has to work harder. As a result, many homeowners ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” Often, home insulation levels—not the air conditioner—are the problem. 

Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels 

  • Warmsecond-floor rooms 
  • Inconsistent room temperatures 
  • Higher cooling costs 
  • An air conditioner that rarely shuts off 

Use Shade to Keep Your Home Cooler 

Sunlight coming through windows and heating your roof and exterior walls boosts indoor temperatures, forcing your air conditioner to work harder. 

Direct sunlight can also affect your outdoor cooling unit by making it harder to release heat efficiently. Creating shade around your property can limit solar heat gain, improve comfort and reduce summer energy bills. Shading your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never restrict airflow around the condenser. Keep away fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that block air movement. 

5 Summer AC Tips to Reduce Heat with Outdoor Shade 

  1. Add trees and landscaping strategically. Place trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor AC 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 allow for enough airflow. 
  2. Use window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes help reduce heat gain from sun streaming through windows. 
  3. Add solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, used on sun-facing windows help block the sun’s heat while still letting in natural light. 
  4. Make use of exterior shading. Add landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to keep direct sunlight off windows so it doesn’t heat up your home. 
  5. Keep blinds closed during high heat. Leave 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 AC. 

Additional Summer Heat Survival Tips 

Airflow, insulation and shade make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can help improve comfort during periods of extreme summer heat. 

  • Adjust ceiling fan direction. Operate ceiling fans counterclockwise to produce 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 limit indoor heat. 
  • Adjust thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that make your AC to work harder. 
  • Arrange preventative maintenance. Professional service helps your system perform efficiently before peak cooling season.
  • Monitor unusual system performance. Take care of strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become larger repairs. 

Know When It’s Time to Contact an HVAC Professional 

Basic AC maintenance and efficiency-focused cooling strategies can help, but some problems need professional attention. If you notice warm air is coming from your vents, airflow feels weak, your air conditioning runs almost constantly, energy bills suddenly increase, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, you should consider an expert evaluation. 

At Haselhoff Air Solutions, our cooling specialists assess airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to determine the underlying cause to help your HVAC system operate 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, improve 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 all season long. 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. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooling Your Home in Summer 

When your house stays hot even though your AC is running, the problem isn’t always the air conditioner. Restricted airflow, too little insulation, inefficient thermostat settings or HVAC system issues can all reduce cooling performance and keep cool air from reaching every room.

Yes. Trees, landscaping, awnings and window coverings block solar heat gain, helping your home remain cooler. Less heat entering your home means your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That uses less energy, which helps decrease your cooling expenses.

Most households 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 air filter you use, pets, allergies and the amount of time your air conditioner runs.

It can. Proper home insulation reduces heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your AC. Ensuring your home has adequate insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps create more consistent indoor temperatures while reducing energy.

No. You should never cover your outdoor AC unit while it’s operating because the condenser needs unobstructed airflow to release heat. Adding shade for your outdoor AC unit is beneficial, but always keep at least 2–3 feet of clearance around the unit and 5 feet above it to maintain proper airflow.

In many households, 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 try not to make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioning to work harder.