Tips to Cool Your Home Fast on a Hot Day

Many people want to cool their homes as fast as possible after getting home from work on a hot day. Unfortunately, some people go about it the wrong way. For example, lowering the thermostat by a lot doesn't work because the AC cools at the same rate irrespective of the temperature setting.

Below are some safe and effective tips to help you cool your home fast.

Start the Cooling Before Getting Home

Get the AC to start cooling your house before you get home. Three technologies allow you to do this.

Remote Control

An internet-connected thermostat allows you to control your AC remotely. That means you can:

• Switch on the AC before leaving the office
• Confirm the temperature setting before getting home
• Confirm the fan setting before getting home

That way, your house will be cool by the time you get home.

Geofencing

Geofencing is a technology that allows your thermostat to sense how far you are from home. The thermostat works in conjunction with an application (app) on your phone. The thermostat switches on the AC if it senses you are close to home. You decide how far you must be from the house before the AC switches on.

Programming

You don't need an internet-connected AC to start cooling your home before your arrival. Instead, get a programmable thermostat and set a timer for before you get home. The programming option works best if you have a predictable schedule.

Minimize Heat Generation

The AC works by moving heat from inside the house and dumping it outside. The more heat there is in the house, the longer your house will take to cool. Minimize heat generation to allow your AC to cool your home faster. Here are a few tips to minimize heat generation:

• Don't switch on the lights in unused rooms when you get home
• Don't turn on electronics you don't want to use, such as the television
• Don't open the windows to admit heat from outside

In short, ensure your AC only has to deal with the heat that was already in the house.

Switch on the Ceiling Fans

Encourage air circulation in all the spaces you want to cool. The house will cool faster if you can get as much of the hot air outside as possible. The cool air your AC creates also needs to reach all the relevant spaces.

If you have a ceiling fan, switch it on as soon as you get home. Set the ceiling fan to spin counterclockwise for efficient cooling. The fan's breeze effect on your skin will also make you feel cool even before the indoor temperature falls to the set level.

Close Off Unused Rooms

You should close off unused rooms so that you don't waste cool air on them. For example, say you are the first or only person at home, and you just want to relax in the living room and watch TV. Close the doors or windows to other rooms, such as bedrooms and the kitchen. That way, you will keep the heat from those rooms away from the living room and allow it to cool fast.

Use a Dehumidifier

Lastly, you can also accelerate the cooling process by switching on the humidifier. Turning on the humidifier works because the AC cools your home by controlling both the humidity and the temperature.

Unfortunately, high humidity levels (as might be the case on a hot summer day) can overwhelm the AC and reduce its cooling efficiency. The humidifier will lighten the AC's load so that it can focus on lowering the temperature.

With the above tips, your AC should cool your home within a reasonable time.  Contact A-1 Finchum Heating & Cooling for help if that doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe your AC unit has a malfunction. We will diagnose and fix your AC so that you can enjoy comfortable temperatures again.