Are your rooms starting to stay hot and uncomfortable?

With the hot summer sun often comes hot and uncomfortable rooms.  This can be a result of several factors including air leaks, duct leaks, reduced air conditioner air flow, defective or insufficient insulation and extremly hot attics.  Here are some tips on how you can lower the temperature and improve the comfort level of these rooms:

• Keep blinds closed to reduce the suns radiant energy from entering your home.
• Make sure air conditioner filters are clean and supply registers and returns are not blocked.
• Keep interior doors open so air can freely flow from rooms to the HVAC returns.
• Make sure attic access doors are air sealed and insulated to prevent hot attic air from entering your living space.
• Turn off lights, appliannces and other plug loads that may be producing heat. Any electrical device produces some heat when plugged in.
• If your outdoor AC condensor unit is in the sun then create shade for it by planting trees, installing solar screening or have it relocated to a shaded part of the house.  Make sure that the air flow through the condensor unit is not reduced.
• Make sure attic insulation is installed to the proper R-value without voids or compression. 
• Make sure duct work is sealed, especially duct work located in a hot attic.
• Make sure ceiling between conditioned space and your hot attic is air sealed properly.