With the sun shining on your home, a greenhouse effect can take place – with your house actually getting much hotter than the 20-odd degrees outside. This applies to three main areas – your walls, windows and roof. Starting at the top, your roof space will heat up when the sun is beaming down on it.
Insufficient insulation: Without adequate insulation, conditioned air will escape through gaps and cracks in walls and ceilings, leading to temperature fluctuations that create hot spots.
What should my AC be set at if it's 90 degrees outside? If the outdoor temperature is 90 degrees, it's recommended to set your thermostat between 75-78 degrees.
Your AC might not cool properly due to thermostat issues, an undersized unit, or extremely high outdoor temps—so check those first. Keep an eye on airflow—replace clogged filters every 3 months, and make sure vents and ducts aren't blocked for efficient cooling.
A correctly sized and well-maintained AC system should run for 15 to 20 minutes, two or three times every hour—with longer cycles in the higher temperatures of summer. The higher the outside temperature, the longer the cycles to cool your home to the desired level, all else being equal.
Materials such as concrete, bricks and tiles absorb and store heat. They are therefore said to have high thermal mass. Materials such as timber and cloth do not absorb and store heat and are said to have low thermal mass.
Old or inefficient windows can allow heat to enter your home during hot weather and escape during colder months. Poorly insulated windows fail to keep out the heat, contributing to a warmer indoor environment.
“Pipes can expand in high temperatures, leading to leaks or even bursts, especially in older systems. And when it comes to electricity, the increased power consumption during hot spells can overload your system, potentially causing circuit issues or, in worst-case scenarios, electrical fires.”
This problem often points to inadequate circulation of warm air. It could be due to blocked vents, a failing HVAC fan, or issues with the furnace itself. Ensure that furniture or drapes are not blocking your vents.
Houses that are hot in the summer generally have two potential issues: insulation or HVAC. The issue could be one or both of these problems.
You should put ice in front of your fan. Alongside its approval from Beatrice, Oleg Stepanchukovski, an interior design coordinator and home expert at Patio Productions, adds that this technique will offer relief from high temperatures quickly.
Insufficient Insulation
Just as insulation prevents warm air from escaping your home in the winter, it keeps cold air from escaping during the summer. At the same time, it also absorbs the sun's heat to reduce solar gains in your home.
Energy Costs and Environmental Impact: A fan is better if you're on a tight budget or value energy conservation and environmental sustainability. Noise Sensitivity: Go for a fan if you're a light sleeper or noise-sensitive. A fan's soft, consistent whirr is more soothing than an AC's intermittent noises.
Tips for Keeping Cool During Sleep
A cool or lukewarm bath or shower can help with that, suggests Raymann. For most people, the temperature in the bedroom at night should not exceed 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and it should be even lower for people that sleep best in a cool bedroom.
Simple Fixes You Can Try
Using fans to improve air circulation, opening windows during cooler hours to let heat escape, and switching to LED light bulbs, which produce less heat, can all help cool down a room. If you find yourself asking why your room is so hot, consider these common causes and solutions.
Black or dark colored materials and objects radiate (give off) and absorb heat the fastest. The reason for this is that lighter colors reflect more light. Instead of thinking of dark colors as absorbers of heat, darker colors are actually better absorbers of light. Darker colors absorb more light.
Luckily, there are many options for cooling down a room that doesn't have air conditioning. For starters, you can cover windows with an awning, shutters, or insulated curtains. In addition to installing an oversized ceiling fan or using floor fans, you can also try energy-efficient lightbulbs or heat-proofing your bed.
Here's the thing: It's normal for your AC to run continuously during hot summer months. You see, on extremely hot days—we're talkin' high 90s to 100s—your system needs to keep up with the incoming heat. To do that, it will run longer in order to maintain a constant, desired temperature in your home.
Setting your air conditioning to 72°F is generally considered a comfortable indoor temperature for many people. It strikes a good balance between comfort and energy efficiency, making it a popular choice for residential settings.
Allowing your air conditioner to rest is an excellent way to extend its life and ensure it operates efficiently throughout the years. Air conditioners, like homeowners, require rest in order to recover and perform optimally.