Question:

Help with heat control in my house during the summer?

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My house is 2000 sq.ft., it has several very large windows in both living rooms. All the windows have "heat-blocking" shades on them, but the temperature in the house stays around 80 degrees during the day in the summer, even though the AC runs continuously. I live in Dallas, Tx, where it is hot in the summer. The A/C system is new, and sufficiently large, according to the installer. Do you think the heat is being transferred to the inside of the house by the glass windows, regardless of the shades? In the PM when the sun goes down, the temperature drops quickly in the house. What are my options? Does the heat blocking "window film" really work? What about "sun screens"?

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4 ANSWERS


  1. Sunscreens would help. Try putting some reflective window film on the glass also. That is where your heat is coming from.


  2. The installer is going to be reluctant to admit the obvious, that the system is too small for the cooling load as it is presently operating, especially if he is the one who sized it as well.

    As Kankuwa has already mentioned, get a second opinion from a certified A/C designer /technician. IF the installer did not figure-in the windows, he may have missed something else too.

    It seems that a major problem can be from the large windows since the temperature drops quickly in the evening. However the sun load should not be heavy on all the windows all the time, only those with southern exposure. The instantaneous sun load should shift during the day from east in the morning to west.

    What is the condition of your air filter ?

    How good is your attic insulation and attic ventilation

    Is your thermostat in calibration ?

    Is air flow to the outside condenser obstructed ?


  3. Put something like some roll up shades on the outside of your windows or buy some trees and plant them strategically so that the trees block most of the sun out during the hottest part of the day or you can stick sprinkler on top of your roof if need be. Good luck.

  4. It is difficult to know for sure, without walking through your home, but I would check to be sure that the air can flow adequately throughout the areas you want cooled. For instance, are the air registers blocked, are doors left open between rooms, etc. Secondly, you can have an "energy consult" done for free through your local PUD - most areas offer this service and are able to electronically determine where you are losing hot or cold air. They will make recommendations for upgrades and may even offer rebates and tax breaks for making upgrades. Good luck!

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