Have you ever tried to cool a room down fast, but it seemed that everything you tried didn’t work? In the middle of Summer, this can be a common problem. But don’t worry. Luckily, there are numerous remedies and solutions that can fix the problem. That being said, your air conditioner should be able to cool down any room in your home and keep it cool. But, if there are times when it seems like certain rooms won’t cool down as fast as you would like them to, follow these simple tips below.
Make Sure the Windows Are Shut
This might seem elementary, but many times rooms don’t cool down like they should because not all of the windows are completely shut. Even a small gap of space can allow enough heat from outside to come in and drastically change the temperature of a room.
Close the Blinds
One of the main hindrances to keeping a room cool is too much sunlight being allowed into the room. Direct sunlight is one of the most intense sources of heat. Have you ever noticed how much of a difference it makes when you stand in the shade versus standing in direct sunlight? The same can be said for a room that is exposed to direct sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight makes a huge difference in a room’s temperature.
In order to limit the amount of sunlight exposure in a room, it’s best to close the blinds. This typically doesn’t block out all of the heat coming from the sun, but it will eliminate most of it. In order to create an even stronger barrier from the sun’s heat, consider installing insulated or thermal curtains over your windows. Thermal curtains can prevent up to 33% of heat gained in a room. On the flipside, thermal curtains can also help retain a large portion of heat within the home in the winter months as well.
Make Use of Fans
If the room that you are wanting to cool has a fan, turn it on. Make sure that the fan is spinning counterclockwise because this is what creates the cooling effect. Fans can expel heat and create a cooling effect that can mimic a 4 degree change in temperature in a room instantly. That’s a pretty big change with minimal effort.
Close Doors
If there are rooms that lead into the room you want to cool down that seem to get hotter than normal, close the door(s) to those rooms. Heat will transfer from room to room if a door is open, so closing any doors in rooms that seem to generate more heat will help.
For example, let’s say you are trying to cool down a living room area. If there is a bedroom that leads into the living room that seems to generate a lot of heat, from sunlight for example, closing that door will keep that heat isolated to that room.
Turn Down the Thermostat
If you are in a rush to get a room to cool down as quickly as possible, crank up the AC by turning down the thermostat a few degrees. This step, especially combined with the steps above, will create a quick and immediate cooling effect in the room.
If the Room Still Doesn’t Seem to Cool Down
If you’ve tried all of the tips above and the room still does not seem to cool off, then there might be an underlying problem. Some of the common problems that prevent a room from cooling down are:
Poor Window Seals or Door Seals
If a window’s seals are worn out or falling apart, it will create a draft that will allow cool air out of the room and warm air into the room. Old windows are especially susceptible to this. The same is true for door seals.
You can visually inspect your seals by looking for small gaps or open areas that lead to the outside environment. You can also shine a flashlight (at night) around the sealed areas and see if you have light coming through the other side.
AC Unit Low on Refrigerant
If your AC is low on coolant and isn’t cooling like it should, then it’s not going to cool down rooms as fast as it normally would. A tell-tale sign that your air conditioner is low on coolant or refrigerant is that your air conditioner is not blowing cool air like it normally does. The air coming out of the vents will feel more warm than usual.
Another sign that your air conditioner is low on refrigerant is your AC unit freezing up. Your air conditioner could just need to be recharged with refrigerant or it could be leaking refrigerant, which would need to be repaired.
Poor Ductwork
If your HVAC system’s ductwork is coming apart or has holes or cracks in it, it will hinder the air flow into your home. This hindered air flow will prevent your home, and especially rooms exposed to sunlight, to cool down properly. Getting your ductwork inspected might be a good idea if you think this could be a possibility.
Undersized AC Unit
An undersized AC unit can certainly be the culprit of not being able to cool a room down quickly. If the air conditioner is undersized, it won’t be able to produce the amount of cool air needed to cool down a room adequately. This can be even more apparent with a room that typically gets hotter than other rooms in the home. If your air conditioner seems to be running constantly, one of the possibilities is that it might be undersized.
Insufficient Insulation
Although more of a rare issue, a room that has insufficient insulation will not retain the cool air for a long period of time. A poorly insulated room will also not block out the heat from outside sufficiently either. Therefore, the room might cool down initially, but it won’t last very long.
Last Resort to Cool Down a Room Fast
If you are in a dire situation and you absolutely need a room to cool down fast and the tips above aren’t enough, then consider making use of a portable air conditioner. You can purchase these at Home Depot and similar stores or online.
If you’ve tried the tips above and fixed any underlying problems you found and the room still will not cool down properly, then consider a more permanent solution. These solutions include installing a window unit air conditioner or having a mini split system installed. Both of these options are extremely efficient when it comes to the amount of energy they require to operate.
I hope these tips have helped you in being able to cool down a room quickly! Do you have any tips that you would add? Feel free to comment below. We’d love to hear them!