Keeping a house cool in the summer can be a daunting task, especially for people living in the southwest and southeast of the United States. You don't cool a hot house with just a single fix. Rather, cooling a home requires attention to several details and the use of different components. The best way to cool a home is a multi-tiered approach, utilizing different methods to reduce energy use while keeping the home comfortable.
Instructions
1. Plant shrubs and small trees around your central air conditioning unit and exposed windows. The air conditioner should be shaded to help keep it cool but without choking out circulating air. Situate shrubs and small trees in front of windows exposed to the western sun.
2. Shade west-facing windows. The sun is at its hottest during the afternoon hours. Windows facing west let in excess solar heat to those rooms, and may cause the air conditioner to run longer and more often to adequately cool the home. Hang light and heat blocking shades inside your home, particularly on windows with a lot of western sun exposure.
3. Upgrade or re-insulate windows and doors. In addition, have a contractor inspect your duct work and ceiling insulation for wear. Blowing more insulation into the attic and repairing or replacing damaged duct work will make air conditioning more energy-efficient and keep the home cooler.
4. Use ceiling and portable fans to circulate air throughout the home. Also, install attic fans to reduce the ambient heat trapped in the attic, allowing the central air conditioner to work less hard to cool the home.
5. Hire a licensed HVAC-R, or Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, technician to perform annual maintenance on the air conditioner. The technician will clean the coils and check the compressor, freon level, condenser and the fan for wear or damage.
Tags: , duct work, shrubs small, shrubs small trees, small trees