Your HVAC has to work extra hard to keep your house cool when the weather gets too hot. This may increase the HVAC's energy consumption and reduce its useful life. Reducing the level of heat in your house from other sources helps to reduce the load on the HVAC. Here are a few ways in which you can help the HVAC by keeping the house cool when it's really hot:
Keep Out the Sun
When the weather is extremely hot, you need to block external sources of heat so you don't waste energy cooling your house and getting it warmed up again. In most places, the sun is the single biggest source of heat, especially if it is shining directly into the house. Block out the sun by closing all the doors, skylights, curtains, blinds, and shades.
Minimize Indoor Heat Generation
Another tip is to minimize the amount of heat you are generating indoor by minimizing your cooking sessions. Cooking generates a lot of heat; the longer you cook, the more the heat generated. If you have an outdoor grill, use it instead of cooking indoors. You can also order food or go out for meals a few times to reduce cooking sessions.
Turn Off the Lights When You Don't Need Them
Although you use your light bulbs for lighting up the house, they do more than that; they also warm up your rooms. Therefore, turn off the lights while leaving the room and only turn them on when you really need them. This is especially necessary if you are using incandescent light bulbs; incandescent produce more heat than CFL bulbs. Unplugging electronics and electrical appliances also help because they also generate some heat.
Choose Cotton Clothes and Sheets
Some clothes will make you feel warm even if the temperature isn't that high. You may not feel the difference that much when the weather is cool, but you will feel it when your air conditioner is struggling to keep up with your cooling needs. Breathable materials, such as lightweight cotton, are best when temperatures are high. Therefore, switch to breathable garments and sheets, and you may not feel the need to set the thermostat at lower temperatures.
The above tips will help a great deal if your HVA is in great shape. However, if your HVAC continues to struggle despite the precautions, then it may be having a malfunction somewhere. Consult HVAC company like Phil's Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. to diagnose and fix the problem.
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