Summer heat waves can push any air conditioner to its limits. As temperatures in Des Moines climb, it’s common to notice increased energy bills, uneven temperatures throughout the home and cooling systems that seem to run all day without keeping up. 

You may think the AC is the only thing that affects how comfortable your home feels. The fact is, your home’s air circulation, insulation and shade all play an important role in cooling performance.  

This guide highlights three effective strategies that can improve comfort and cooling efficiency: improving airflow in your home, making sure your home has proper insulation and adding shade to reduce heat from the sun. Using these summer AC tips from the pros at Heartland Heating & Cooling, you’ll keep your house cool during heatwaves. 

Start with Airflow: Improve Airflow for Better Cooling 

AC units lower the temperature of air and move it through ductwork to the rooms in your home. For that cooled air to keep your home comfortable, it must move freely throughout your home. If airflow is blocked, some rooms may stay warm. 

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

Home Airflow Optimization Strategies 

Following these simple steps to boost airflow in your home can increase comfort, minimize strain on your AC and decrease energy costs. 

  • Swapout dirty air filters. Regular AC air filter replacement helps your HVAC system increase airflow while helping improve indoor air quality. 
  • Check that supply and return vents are unblocked. Furniture, rugs and curtains can create blocked air vents that prevent cooled air from circulating throughout your home. 
  • Open up doors in unused rooms. This helps air to move more evenly between rooms. 
  • Relocate furniture covering registers.Keeping registers clear allows conditioned air to circulate more easily. 
  • Book preventiveAC maintenance services. As part of a professional HVAC tune-up, a technician can check and clean dirty 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. While your air conditioner removes heat from inside your home, insulation helps stop heat from moving indoors. High-quality insulation increases comfort, lowers cooling run times and can help extend the life of your HVAC system. 

The attic is one of the primary sources of solar heat gain during hot weather. Proper attic insulation and cooling are closely connected because attic insulation slows heat transfer through the roof. Weatherstripping and sealing around doors and windows also help keep hot outdoor air from getting inside. 

When insulation levels are too low or air leaks are present, your air conditioner has to work harder. That often leads homeowners to ask, “Why is my house hot with the AC running?” In many cases, the real problem is inadequate insulation, and the AC is not the problem. 

Signs of Low Home Insulation Levels 

  • Warmsecond-floor rooms 
  • Hotand cold spots 
  • High utilitybills 
  • AnAC system that runs nonstop 

Use Shade to Reduce Heat Gain 

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

Direct sunlight can also reduce the efficiency of your outdoor AC unit by reducing its ability to release heat efficiently. Adding shade around your property can reduce solar heat gain, improve comfort and decrease summer energy bills. Shading your air conditioner’s outdoor unit can also help—but never obstruct airflow around the condenser. Avoid fences, enclosures or dense landscaping that restrict air movement. 

5 Summer AC Tips for Using Shade to Cool Your Home 

  1. Add trees and landscaping strategically. Use trees to shade your roof, walls, windows and outdoor cooling equipment. If you’re shading your outdoor AC unit, maintain at least 2–3 feet of clearance on all sides and 5 feet above the unit to ensure it receives enough airflow. 
  2. Add window coverings. Light-colored curtains, cellular shades and thermal drapes help reduce heat gain from direct sunlight coming through windows. 
  3. Install solar screens in your home. Solar screens, which are specially designed mesh curtains, used on sun-facing windows help reduce the sun’s heat while still allowing in natural light. 
  4. Incorporate exterior shading. Add landscaping and design features like awnings, pergolas, shade sails or exterior shutters to stop direct sunlight off windows so it doesn’t heat up your home. 
  5. Keep blinds closed during high heat. Shut blinds or shades closed on west- and south-facing windows during the hottest part of the day to reduce indoor temperatures and ease the load on your air conditioning system. 

Additional Hot Weather Survival Tips 

Airflow, insulation and shade all make a big difference, but these AC efficiency tips can also increase comfort during extreme summer heat. 

  • Settheappropriate ceiling fan direction. Run ceiling fans counterclockwise to provide a cooling breeze. 
  • Reduceuse of heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day. Operate ovens, dryers and dishwashers in the morning or evening to reduce indoor heat. 
  • Manage thermostat settings. Don’t make frequent temperature changes that force your AC to work harder. 
  • Book preventative maintenance. Routine service helps your system run efficiently before peak cooling season.
  • Monitor unusual system performance. Call a professional to investigate strange noises, weak airflow or inconsistent cooling before they become larger repairs. 

The Importance of Knowing When It’s Time to Turn to an HVAC Professional 

Basic AC maintenance and energy-saving 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 conditioner runs almost constantly, energy bills suddenly increase, rooms cool unevenly or your system turns on and off repeatedly, it’s time for an expert evaluation. 

At Heartland Heating & Cooling, our cooling specialists assess airflow, duct performance, insulation-related comfort concerns and overall system health to determine the actual cause to help your HVAC system operate at its best throughout the summer. 

Stay Comfortable All Summer Long 

Keeping your home cool during a heat wave takes more than just your air conditioning. Proper airflow, adequate insulation and effective shade work together to enhance comfort, boost efficiency and decrease cooling costs. Combined with regular summer HVAC maintenance, these strategies can help your system run at its best when you need it most. 

has the knowledge and experience to keep you comfortable all season long. If you’re in need of 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 Summer Air Conditioner Efficiency 

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

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

For most homes, homeowners should check their air filter every month during the peak cooling season and replace it as necessary. The best air filter replacement schedule depends on the type of filter, pets, allergies and how often your air conditioner runs.

It can. Proper home insulation limits heat transfer into your home, reducing strain on your AC. Making sure your home has appropriate insulation levels, especially in your attic or around windows, helps maintain more consistent indoor temperatures while reducing energy.

You shouldn’t. You should never cover your outdoor air conditioning unit while it’s running because the condenser needs unrestricted airflow to release heat. Adding shade for your outdoor air conditioning unit is beneficial, but always make sure there’s 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 a good balance of comfort and energy efficiency during a heat wave. Use the highest temperature that keeps your family comfortable, and try not to make large thermostat adjustments that force your air conditioning to work harder.