Tips to Optimize Your AC Usage in Extreme Heat
Arizona’s heat can make it unbearable in the summer. You may be wanting to stay indoors more often to try to beat the heat, but your a/c might not be able to keep your house as cool as you’d like. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer all summer long because your home is just too hot to handle. You can optimize your a/c usage in extreme heat by utilizing the tips mentioned below.
Thermostat Control
Your a/c is controlled by the thermostat, and if it isn’t used correctly, you won’t be able to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Don’t turn it up when you are leaving your house for the day, as it will just cause your system to have a difficult time cooling off your home when you turn it down at night. It’s more efficient to leave your thermostat on the same setting to keep your home at a consistent temperature.
Air Conditioning Maintenance
Your a/c needs to be regularly maintained for it to be able to deal with the extreme heat. Your air conditioning technician will check coolant levels and ensure the system is functioning as it should. This will ensure that it’s able to keep your home cool and lessen the likelihood of it malfunctioning in the middle of a summer heatwave. Your technician can also discuss how you can optimize your usage when it’s sweltering outside.
Reduce Solar Glare
The sun’s heat can come into your home thanks to solar glare as it can reflect off outside surfaces, which will be reflected through your windows. This can cause your indoor temperatures to rise no matter how efficient your a/c is, but you can combat this by utilizing window curtains or having your windows tinted. You may be surprised at how just decreasing the amount of sunlight coming into your windows can help keep your home at a cooler indoor temperature. If you want to go one step further, you can also add insulation to your attic or the inside of your walls. It will act as a barrier between the inside of your home and the sweltering heat outside.
Air Leaks
Many homes have air leaks, and if this is occurring in your home, you will find it nearly impossible to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Common areas to check for air leaks include around your windows and doors. If you notice that you have a leak around your windows, you may be able to eliminate it with silicone caulk. If there’s a leak around your doors, you probably will need to replace the weather stripping to keep hot air from coming inside.
A/C Zones
You can strategically keep certain areas of your home cool by utilizing a/c zones. Your a/c technician can place dampers throughout your ductwork to control how much air goes into each room. This can prove beneficial if you areas in your home that you don’t want to cool, such as your laundry room or a utility room.
Supplement With Fans
Your a/c probably can’t do all of the work at keeping your home cool in Arizona in the summer. Because of this, you may want to consider supplementing the air with fans as they can circulate cool air around. They will help cool down your home to a more bearable temperature. One of the nice things about fans is that they are relatively inexpensive to use and won’t raise your electricity bill very much.
Arizona can be very hot in the summer, but there are some things that you can do to optimize your a/c usage. If you want to check your a/c to make sure that it’s running correctly, give us a call today. We can inspect your system and maintain it so that it keeps you cool all summer long.