PEARLAND Blog

6 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Trying To Keep Their Home Cool

With higher temperatures throughout Southeastern Texas, even as we approach fall, you’ve probably tried everything to keep your home cool without racking up your energy costs. Unfortunately, if you’re not familiar with the various systems in your home that go toward climate control, you could be falling for some commonly misunderstood myths. Make sure you’re improving your comfort and safety without significantly draining your budget!

1. Leaving the AC at the Same Temperature While You’re Away

Keeping the AC at the same temperature all day is one of the most common myths homeowners will try out when first looking for better ways to keep their home cool. However, this is actually counterintuitive. Air conditioners are designed to turn on and off throughout the day. That means, making small adjustments throughout the day while your home can help reduce the strain on your system, improving your savings and comfort.

On the other hand, you shouldn't allow your home to get too warm. The air conditioner needs to then work harder at reducing the temperature, putting more stress on the electricity. Realistically, changing the temperature a few times a day about three or four degrees reduces allows the AC to easily cool the area down before taking a break to save energy. When you leave the house for work, errands, or a trip, raising the temperature as opposed to turning the unit off completely can improve efficiency. Using a programmable thermostat can also improve the temperature adjustments throughout the day so you can optimize the

1. Turning the Thermostat Way Down to Cool the House “Faster”

Another common myth homeowners don't look into often enough is the idea that turning your AC down past the desired temperature will cool the house down faster. Unfortunately, this isn't how air conditioning units work. Your AC doesn't blow cooler air if the thermostat is set lower; instead, it will just blow the cool air at the same rate until the home reaches the target temperature.

The problem with this is that people will often forget about adjusting the temperature once the house is cooler. This means the AC will continue to run until it’s reached that significantly lower number, adding stress and wasting energy. Instead, set the thermostat to the ideal temperature, and remember to adjust accordingly when it’s finally cool enough.

1. Closing Vents in Unused Rooms to Make Ventilation More “Efficient”

When there are rooms in your home that you don’t venture into often, such as a guest room, you may be tempted to close the vents. Some people believe that in doing so, more cool air will be made available for the rooms with more activity. Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily the case, especially if you’re in a home with a modern air conditioning unit.

Instead, closing off these vents can cause problems with your ventilation system and air quality while also putting extra strain on your unit. Most air conditioners are designed to cool the entire house rather than just specific rooms. The irregular temperatures will cause the AC to continue running until the set temperature is met.

1. Keeping Your Blinds Open for Light

It makes sense that in order to reduce your electricity bills, you opt for natural lighting rather than having to remember to turn off the lights in the house. However, throughout the warmer months, natural light also means an increase in heat - especially if your windows are facing the sun.

For natural lighting with less heat, open the curtains on windows that are in the opposite direction of the sun. There are also energy-efficient light bulbs that are not only easier on your eyes than older fluorescent light bulbs but also help keep your energy bills lower. It’s important to note that in the evenings, opening your blinds a little can help the heat escape outside.

1. Neglecting Regular Maintenance

Higher heating and cooling bills are likely a culprit of forgoing home maintenance needs in an attempt to save each year. The HVAC unit, ventilation system, and other contributing appliances and systems need to be regularly inspected, maintained, and replaced. Otherwise, unexpected repairs and failures are going to end up costing you even more than you expected.

Consider your car’s routine maintenance - things like the oil, tires, and air filters need to be regularly changed in order to run efficiently. If left alone for too long, you’re likely to pay more to repair damages that may have been caused by old and deteriorated material. The same principle applies to your home - regular evaluations and upgrades are saving you more money in the long run!

1. Ignoring Insulation Needs

There is one solution that may be able to render almost all of the previous suggestions a moot point - upgrading your home's insulation. Old and deteriorated insulation allows for conditioned air to escape, replaced with hot air from outside. If you're noticing irregular temperatures throughout your home or that the AC has to kick on again soon after reaching the desired temperature, it's time for an evaluation.

Inspecting the insulation throughout your home could reveal a number of issues; there may be inadequate coverage, poorly installed material, or even spaces that are entirely missing efficient material. Adding the right insulation to key places in your home like within the walls, in between ceiling joists, and underneath floors can reduce the need for you to run your AC as often, saving you more money on monthly heating and cooling bills.

Solve More Insulation Myths With Local Industry Experts

Insulation and air sealing hold the solutions to more of your comfort and safety concerns than you may realize. On top of that, they can even improve your monthly costs and energy waste. These materials are some of your strongest lines of defense when it comes to temperature regulation, which means if they’re not up to par, you could be at risk of a lot more than just an overworked HVAC unit. If you’re looking to learn how to increase your comfort and debunk more insulation myths, contact your local experts at Koala Insulation of Pearland today and schedule a free evaluation to have your questions answered!