When the sun is out, heat gain adds to your cooling load and undermines your air conditioning efforts. That’s why it’s important to minimize heat gain for the lowest cooling costs and best home comfort possible. Here’s how.
- Close the curtains: Heat gain is most intense on the south and west sides of your home, where sunlight streams in through the windows. Block the heat by drawing the window coverings in these rooms. Choose from venetian blinds, curtains, honeycomb shades and other choices, knowing that thick, opaque options block heat gain the best.
- Shade the sunny side: If direct sunlight doesn’t reach the windows on the south and west sides of your home, there’s less need to cover the windows and block out all light. Awnings, shutters and other building add-ons are effective, but shady landscaping is often the most visually pleasing option, both inside and out. Strategically plant tall trees to shade your home in the late afternoon, grow vines on trellises, and plant low-lying shrubs to shade the foundation.
- Use a reflective film: Tinted window films reflect the sun’s rays, keeping heat and harmful UV rays out. They also permit you some privacy by blocking people from seeing inside while you can still see out.
- Install efficient windows: If you have outdated single-pane windows, a home improvement project may be in order. Choose double- or triple-pane replacement windows for added insulation. Look for a low-E coating as well to reflect radiation and help prevent heat gain.
- Know when to open up your home: When it cools off in the evening, it may be best to shut off the air conditioner and let the cooler outdoor air sweep excess heat from your home. Keep an eye on the relative humidity, though; if it’s quite humid outside, such as during a rainstorm, it’s probably best to keep the windows shut.
These tips are sure to help you reduce solar heat gain this summer. To learn more, please contact Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heating in Los Angeles today. We have specialized in residential and commercial HVAC services since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat gain and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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