AC Can’t Keep Up with Heat
Authors: Craig Aaker with Bill Hoelzer / Read Time: Four Minutes
AC can be a lifesaver, but it may not be enough when the temperature climbs above 100 or more in Oregon. If your air conditioner can’t keep up on hot days, what do you do?
Feel free to give us a call at 541.330.8767 to talk about your home, or send us a message anytime:
AC can’t keep up? Here’s why.
Air conditioners are designed to work efficiently under different conditions that vary by location. For example, you’d need a larger, more powerful AC to keep up with the summer heat in Phoenix compared to Portland or Bend, OR.
In Portland, the outdoor design temperature ranges between the mid-80s to mid 90s; it would not make sense to design a system that can completely cool a house at 110 degrees in this area (unless the climate changes drastically…).
However, this also means that your air conditioner may not be able to cope with the extreme heat that we get from time to time in Oregon. If GreenSavers installed your system, it is designed to keep your home at a cool 72 degrees by running non-stop when it is 95 degrees outside. But when the temperature rises above 100 or even 110, your home will start to feel warmer and warmer.
Heat waves require active management of your home. Here are the strategies that will give your AC the best chance of keeping up on hot days. If you don’t have AC, you’ll also find tips to make your home as comfortable as possible through a heat wave.
Even with AC, stay ahead of the heat
Lower your indoor temperature at night
If you have an AC, set your thermostat to 65 degrees or lower at night, when it is cooler outside. This will help your AC to run longer and create a cold mass in your home that will give you a head start the next day.
Don’t turn OFF your Air Conditioner
Whatever you do, DO NOT turn off your AC during the day, even if you are not at home or you think it is saving energy. Turning off your AC will let the heat build up inside your home, and it will be very hard for your AC to cool it down again when you turn it on. Your AC is designed to run constantly during a heat wave, so don’t worry if it does just that.
With or without AC, block the sun
IF YOU’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAT WAVE
Keep your blinds or curtains closed closed during the heat of the day. Don’t have curtains or blinds? Consider improvising something. You could hang a blanket inside a West or South facing window, An alternative would be to use a sheet or tarp to shade hot areas of our home outside.
IF YOU HAVE TIME TO PREPARE
About 76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters the home to become heat (energy.gov). That's a lot of heat, and the percentage increases with older, single-pane windows. Replacing windows will help to even out temperatures in your home.
OTHER WAYS TO BLOCK THE SUN
Plant trees or large shrubs, especially on the sunniest sides of your home.
How to keep house cool without AC
Use natural ventilation at night
If you don’t have an AC, you can still try to keep your home as cool as possible by using natural ventilation and fans. Keep an eye on the outside temperature in the evening and at night, and compare it with your indoor temperature.
If the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature, open all the windows you can, then use fans to bring in the cooler air and push out the warmer air. This will help you to lower your indoor temperature and make your home more comfortable.
For more on natural ventilation, check out our article: Windows Open or Closed When Hot?
Keep the inside in and the outside out during the day
After cooling down your home with night air, be sure to close all the windows and doors before the temperature starts to rise in the morning. Opening windows when it is hotter outside than inside will only make your home warmer. Remind everyone in the house to keep the doors closed and be intentional when going in and out.
Move the air in your home
Use fans to move the air inside your house. If you have ceiling or box fans, run them to make the air feel cooler and more comfortable.
If you have a modern and efficient heating system (without AC), you can also run your HVAC system fan to distribute the air inside your house. If you have an older furnace, this may not be a good idea because the fan motor may generate a lot of heat, so run the fan only occasionally but not all the time.
If your AC can’t keep up with heat
It doesn’t necessarily mean that your AC is broken, but it most certainly means that you need to take steps to actively manage your home through a heat wave.
If you have questions about your home or would like to schedule a consultation to keep your home cool, please feel free to give us a call anytime: 541.330.8767.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOME COOLING
Start by visiting our air conditioning resource pages for homeowners in Portland or Bend, Oregon. You can also keep reading our latest blog articles about energy efficient home cooling.